The Cleansing Game-Changer

When it comes to cleanser, like many skincare addicts out there, I generally fall under the 'flitter/non-committer' category; never quite managing to remain loyal to a single product, instead always switching the used bottle out in excitement for something more balmy, less stripping or whatever 'extra mile' I'm on the look out for, at the time. I'd noted the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel onto my mental wish-list a while ago, but at a steep £32 a pop, I could never quite bring myself to justify the purchase. I may have mentioned that I was lusting after this to my mum, on a few occasions, and she thoughtfully wrapped it up for my 19th - bon anniversaire! (Mum points x100).

Something that drew me towards the cleanser, back when I was at the online window shopping stage, was it's predominantly natural formula; infused with vitamins (A, C & E) and starflower oil which are said to work synergistically to improve the appearance of dry (tick), sun damage or mature skin, protect against environmental damage (tick) and enhance, nourish and soften the skin (tick)... tempted?

After a little over two months of using the cleanser, almost daily I might add, I can say with total honesty that no matter what I change up or swap out in my skincare routine Oskia will always feature; big statement. The thang' just manages to do everything I ask of it: soothes, balances, nourishes, removes impurities and illuminates.

I apply the cleanser as the first step of my skincare routine, morning or night, by massaging it directly onto dry skin (this does feel a little funky, but bear with). Now, this step is totally optional but here is where I enjoy leaving the product to soak into the skin for a few minutes, acting like a mini-mask, while I sing along to Ed Sheeran *thinkin' ouuut loud*, before I add a splash of warm water to emulsify. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a gel consistency, I'm usually quite wary myself, but in my opinion it's more balmy and lighter than your average gel formula and once worked into the skin it mimics a light and oily texture with no foam in sight.
I like to use a flannel as apposed to a muslin cloth to remove the excess; simply because I feel like I can really get in there with a flannel and do the job properly. Whatever your personal preference, the gel works really well to shift all that residual, everyday grime without stripping or leaving the skin feeling too tight; one of my pet peeves in cleansers. Since I've been extra poorly lately I haven't been wearing much makeup but on the few occasions I have slipped something on to ma' face the cleanser breaks it down really nicely and with a little encouragement from a flannel it removes all traces in one cleanse.

Together with the absence of warpaint and the of help of this cleanser and a few other little gems in my routine, my otherwise large pores around my T-zone and lacklustre complexion is looking pretty healthy - yay! I know with some certainty that when I'm faced with the dreaded moment when I realise that I've reached the bottom of the bottle, I will be frantically pumping away to try and bring up some product and jumping onto Space NK in a frenzy to re-purchase. I have faith that this cleanser will continue to be a  blessing during the transitional months when my skin is more prone to getting a bit bumpy and veering towards oily. For me, this one has earned its holy grail status in my collection and girls, I couldn't rave about it any more - if you can get your mitts on this, I say go for it!

Have you tried Oskia's Renaissance Cleansing Gel? What's your favourite cleanser?

Sometimes it all gets really overwhelming

So, you may have noticed that I was out of action for the better part of the month of December; don't worry you haven't missed out on any wild or spontaneous Christmas excursions and by the end of this post, hopefully, you will be able to count yourself filled in!
It's been a season chockablock with significant health hiccups, a case of set back after set back, and unfortunately what with all the festivities of the last few months, alongside family commitments I haven't been able to catch my breath, let alone get back into the habit of writing here each week. During all the madness, however, I have attempted to keep you updated on my new Instagram and if you are looking for some extra reading material, I shared some of my favourite blogs to read here last week. 

I haven't yet had the chance to delve into the specifics of my chronic illnesses here on the blog, and I intend to talk about my experiences in more detail this year (watch this space!). In November I had my fourth major vertigo attack, which left me completely bedbound for a number of weeks. Towards the end of the month I started to notice different symptoms from my norm and just felt altogether extra poorly; upon investigation we realised that I had an infection and although it was quickly cleared by a course of good ol' anti-Bs I was left feeling very washed out and fatigued. A few weeks later the bad luck continued and my papa brought home a nasty cold - that one pretty much finished me off! If you're interested in reading more about the difficulties of being ill on top of being chronically ill, check out Sophia's blog post here. 

Aside from illness, something that I am equal parts anxious and thrilled about, that I don't think I have yet mentioned is that we have sold our house and found a new place over an hour away! *Jumps for joy* For someone who's lived in the same spot all their life, moving outside of the county is a big deal - a little extra to add to my worry pot, albeit a pretty darn exciting one. New year, new start!

So all in all, there have been quite a few, what I call (cheeky Miranda reference for all of you mourning the end of the series), paper bag moments and a constant underlying feeling of "Help! I'm sinking!". Sometimes I find myself feeling entirely helpless to the storm, but I'm slowly learning to become my own lifeguard; breathing through each day, using my dreams as the armbands that keep me afloat and letting whatever is out of my control take it's course. There will always be times when no matter how much positive energy we chuck at a situation it just doesn't want to pipe the beep down, and we have no choice but to endure all of the uncomfortable heart flutters and sweaty palms. I guess these are the things that help us to grow, as I was lovingly reminded by my friend Meg "Every flower must grow through dirt". I really appreciate the support of all my spoonie sisters and all their encouragement and inspiration for me to spur on despite the difficulties.

If you're really perceptive you may have realised I have quite the hot and cold relationship with my blog, it can be hard to commit to weekly or even monthly posts when you are faced with the stone-cold reality of being chronically ill. I have realised that there will always be obstacles and that the most sensible decision I can make is to prioritise my health, with the comfort that my ambitions will still be there when I am better rested. Even though I will continue to make a conscious effort to smell the roses, I'm happy to accept that things may not always be rosy.

In the words of T. Swift I think we are out of the woods and should be back for the new year, with a bit of luck! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that things will continue to settle down.

I hope that everyone had a magical Christmas and New Year 

Blog Round Up 2014

Well hello there stranger - and a happy New Year to you! You may have noticed that I have been M.I.A for the better part of December - there should be a post explaining all, coming up in the next couple of weeks, but even though I'm an incy wincy bit late I would still like to share the lurrrve and put up this little round up of my favourite blogs from 2014. 

SO, let's get down to business:

Vivianna Does Makeup - a legendary/award winning beauty blog that has fuelled the majority of my  makeup and skincare purchases this year. Warning: Enabler alert! Personally I'm not one of the readers that seems to get hot under the collar about sponsored content, I figure as long as she's being open and honest with her viewers, then girl, it's all good.

Highlights: Daily posting made it near-on impossible to narrow it down to three favourites so in true Anna-style I'm going to cheat and leave this one up to you! 

Hayley-Eszti- Whenever I feel myself slipping into dangerous negative nilly territory I pay a visit to Hayley's blog. Hayley puts her naked heart and soul into her writing with bona fide conviction, and always inspires me with her unfaltering positive attitude, despite everything she deals with, as a chronic illness sufferer, on a daily basis.
Hay, you ma role model <3


Highlights: Santa baby, slip a hot man under the tree, for me, Perfectly imperfect, My life with memory loss 

Meg Says - One of my highlights of 2014 was getting to know this lip stick lovin' beauty & lifestyle blogger. I've thoroughly enjoyed taking a #teabreak each week to catch up on everything Meg has had to say. She's a true example of beauty rooted much further than skin-deep; always going that extra mile to flip someone's frown.

Meg Says has very recently branched out into YouTOOB territory and I have every faith that 2015 will be a year chockablock with success for this glowing writer.

Highlights: A family summer holiday in Portugal, New job - blogging for a living, A day in the life of an ME sufferer

Katharine and M.E - The best thing to come out of starting this blog - my wonderful new friend, who I just couldn't imagine life without! Although I am maybe a smidgen bias Katharine is easily the most selfless, giving and compassionate person you will ever meet, and her blog is a true reflection. This year Katharine turned me into someone who uses multiple exclamation marks, but in September she upped the anti by giving up gifts and a big do to donate her 21st birthday to ME Research UK and raised a remarkable £1,500!!!!!! We are so proud of you. 

The world needs more people like you Katharine, keep on shining  <3




Highlights: Turning 21 and raising £1,500 for ME Research UK, What 2014 taught me 

Spoonie Sophia-  I'm not sure who should be writing this one: me or my muma! Regardless of who is in fact the biggest fan of Soph's recipes (it's me, hands down), if you are looking to learn more about incorporating a plant-based diet into a healthy lifestyle, or want to dip your toes into the vegan pool, this is the blog to follow.  Sophia shares her journey in taking control of her health and managing her chronic illnesses using her diet. Both Sophia's blog and instagram are decorated with the most creative and bright photographs that will really inspire you to give her made-easy recipes a whirl.

Highlights: Reaching body confidence, Raw vegan banana & chocolate tart, Gluten-free mince pies

I started my blog mid 2014 with a heart full of hope and I feel so blessed to have met such beautiful souls along the way. We should all feel incredibly proud of the positive and friendly blogging community we have goin' on, and continue to inspire and encourage one another throughout the new year. 

Have you found friendship through blogging? What were your favourite blogs last year? 

Auld Lang Syne

December 31st 2014

I won't hide that I'm breathing quite the sigh of relief at the thought that, as I type this, we are in the last few hours of 2014.

When it comes to reflections I think of all the curveballs that this year has thrown my way; that 18-year-old-me couldn't have anticipated. As I stood eagerly at the edge of 2014 I held confidence in my expectations that I would sail through the seasons, turn a corner in terms of my health, and feel able to return to studying and what I thought to be my norm'.

While reality did bring something all together more bumpy, it's been a year of meaningful lessons. Perhaps the one that has never ventured far from my thoughts this year, is that until we are struck by something much bigger than ourselves, and we continue to walk on through the fog, we have never truly known our heart.

At the foot of 2015, I'm happy to float through the coming months, without any expectations, and feel immensely thankful for even the tiniest of steps in the right direction. Despite all the heartaches this last chapter has brought me, as 365 blank pages unfold I am filled to the brim with hope that day by day we will all be reunited with our health, happiness and love.

And there's a hand my trust friend!
And give me a hand o'thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
For days of auld lang syne

Wishing you the happiest new year,

Rachel x

Be-you-tiful

Body confidence was something that I contemplated blogging about when I initially planned 'Smell the Roses', but it's bubbled to the surface lately after the release of the song 'All about that bass' last month, causing bloggers to type eagerly away at their laptops in a frenzy to join in with all the nitty gritty. 

These days 'real beauty' or 'real women' are terms that are thrown around as often as 'skinny' and 'petite' and while I'm very fond of the whole born-beauty metaphor, I struggle to feel comfortable with the common misconception that we look to the use of the word 'real' as a positive affirmation of body image.

In my early-mid teens I was somewhat of a late bloomer, my jeans hung loose across my hips and I wasn't yet busty enough to fill the cups of a AA. For a long time I didn't really take too much notice of that fact that I resembled a much more similar shape to my best guy friend than that of the majority of female peers. I can't seem to pinpoint exactly when I became body conscious; I just remember feeling more and more unformed and inadequate as a woman.
For a few years I willed my concave stomach to curve so that my tops might hug me in that way that they 'real'ly should. I felt no place of comfort amongst my friends, who were busy bickering over who would win the award for the chubbiest arms, as they labelled me confident for not sharing in their puppy fat years, innocently overlooking the guilt I felt for my inability to be good enough; to be womanly.

Isolated by these nagging feelings I decided to ask myself why I felt so meagre, solely because I didn't slot comfortably into the 'real' beauty category. I was real, I didn't participate in any fad diet, or restrict myself to sucking on one watermelon segment a day, nor did I take up my Grandma's suggestion of supplementing my smarties with chicken fillets. I was just me, flat chested, straight up and down - little me.

This skewed definition of beauty is no more healthy than that of which it was designed to counteract, yet we open-heartedly applaud anybody who chooses to rock this mantra. To me, there's some disunity about it all. 

What seems to be deemed too tough to chew is that insecurity does not discriminate. It does not favour those who are conscious of weight, height or skin, it affects every-body, regardless of size. We could have the juiciest of J-Lo curves, the tiniest waist band, but there would always be that one thing about ourselves that we struggled to feel confident about. So why is it that we are so quick to assume that skinny is equal to happiness? 

I don't dispute that women with love handles, gapless thighs and spare tyres are sexy, and that they should attempt to attain hollowed middles and sullen cheeks, rather that they are just as beautiful as those without. The slimmer girls among us are in no way unremarkable because we have less booty to shake. 

So, if we have to cling to the word 'real', then let's not relate it to any physical attribute, instead that gentle moment when a woman knows her own body and accepts her naked self, feeling empowered and confident in her skin.

Nowadays when I look in the mirror I see something pretty special. So although I will always hold a slight distain for the wrinkles that gather across my forehead, and the knobbliness of my knees, I really like having blue eyes and it may not be Kim K's but I have been blessed with a damn fine derriere - there, I said it! So, with that in mind, I'm asking you to have a kind look at yourself and leave a comment below to let me know which of your features you feel are simply too good not to share - let's celebrate each other <3 

BE YOU TIFUL