Spring is finally here.  While you're busy freshening up the wardrobe and home, don't forget your skincare and face.

1.  Clean out the makeup drawer/purse/kit.
When was the last time you had a really good look inside?  Find any clogged up mascara, worn down lipsticks, gunky sponges and brushes?  If so, toss them out.  You really won’t use them again next season.  Did you continue to use them while having a cold or flu over winter?  Then toss the applicators in the bin, replace with new ones and wash your makeup brushes.  You want to avoid taking nasty bacteria into next season.  I recommend soaking in very warm, anti-bacterial dish wash or liquid hand soap; rinse thoroughly in running water and dry in the sun.

There are many recipes for Earl Grey Tea Cake, but this one from Soap Queen really caught my eye as it's a little different from the rest

1. It's presented as a round layer cake rather than a loaf - so you can dress it up as you like to be more ‘special occasion'.
2. The ingredients – it uses teas infused milk, wholemeal flour, yoghurt, honey and no eggs.
   

It has been test driven in The Drift Escentuals Kitchen and I can say it is lovely and moist and not too sweet.  Infusing the tea in milk also gives it a more subtle tea flavour.

Two fabulous oils I’ve yet to cover are Sunflower and Safflower Oil.  I love these oils for cleansing.

Why?  They are high in Linoleic Acid which makes them great for all skin types i.e. dry, oily and sensitive skin.  Linoleic acid can also help oil and water mix so they are also more easily rinsed away.  Where the oils differ is in their absorption ability so I use them differently depending on the type of cleansing.

Is your skin feeling dry? tired? rough in patches? needs a boost? Is your moisturiser just not doing its job? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then a facial oil can be a great addition to your skin care routine.  Think of it like a natural face serum, but only better.  It can be used in many more ways than a face serum.  It’s really up to you.

I love a good plant oil. 

They are the foundation to many wonderful natural skin care products – facial oils, serums, cleansers, moisturisers, body oils and lotions.  They’re pretty much in everything except for water based hydrosols & toners.  Not only do they hydrate, nourish and make our skin feel silky soft, they are rich in fatty acids which are essential to healthy, radiant looking skin.  So before  I spill on specific oils, it’s important to understand how fatty acids relate with our skin.