CHARLI B

A British Beauty, Lifestyle & Family Blog

Keep It Cool: How To Transform Your Home for Summer

· 2 Comments

Keeping your cool in the summer heat is easier said than done. We all long for the first rays of sun when in the grip of winter, but then when the mercury soars we can be somewhat unprepared, from the summer clothes we wear to the interiors of our homes.

 

Of course, in tropical countries the housing is designed to keep cool inside without the air con on, from all-white buildings that deflect heat to the use of tiled floors or polished concrete that are cool underfoot. But before you start wondering ‘How much is polished concrete?’ or fast tracking your order on a floor standing fan, try these easy tricks to lower the temperature indoors…

 

Keep The Shades Lowered

It’s so simple it’s genius and one of the oldest tricks in the book, but simply lowering the blinds or closing the curtains during the hottest part of the day (12-3pm) could save the temperature from getting out of control in your house. Studies have found that over 30 per cent of unwanted heat is coming in from your windows, and simply using a system of shades and curtains during the hottest part of the day can reduce temperatures by up to 20 per cent. So save on those air conditioning bills and pull the blinds, especially if you have south facing windows.

 

Bring The Blackout

To take this tip one are further, invest in blackout blinds or curtains. These are relatively inexpensive and help to block the sunlight even more. You can even find solar window clings – clear film that sticks to the window and deflects some of the heat and sun’s rays, keeping your house cooler. The white plastic backing, or white cotton lining for curtains is an easy way to cut down on bills for air conditioners or electric fans.

 

Control The Air Flow

Another simple trick is just to be mindful of controlling the air flow in your house – and this can be as easy as shutting the internal doors properly! Any unused rooms should be closed off during the day and then conversely at night, open up interns doors to encourage the flow of cooler night time air through the house. Think natural AC!

 

Hack Your Fans

If you are using an electric fan, there’s a nifty little trick to try to enhance their cooling power – and it won’t cost you a penny more! Simply take some ice or a cool pack, pop into a shallow dish and place directly in front of your electric fan. This will allow a constant stream of cooled air to circulate. It’s like having your own personal sea breeze!

 

Switch It Up In The Bedroom

Many people have gotten out of the habit of changing their bedding with the seasons, so if you stick with the same duvet and pillows all year round, invest in some summer weight items to keep cool. Always opt for a breathable natural fabric such as cotton during the hotter months – polyesters and other plastic fibres trap more heat. And if you love that ‘cold side of the pillow’ sensation? Then you need to know about buckwheat pillows! The natural fibre has naturally occurring air pockets in it’s structure, even when packed densely together. This means it doesn’t hold on to the heat generated by your body, and allows the air to flow, keeping your head cooler during those humid nights.

 

Keep Your Cool

When it’s hot outside, it’s more important than ever to keep hydrated. Fill a large jug or flask with slices of fresh lime and lemon, top it up with water and ice, and keep sipping away throughout the day. You could even experiment with other water infusions such as strawberry and mint, or orange and basil. If you’ve been outside in the direct sun, run the cold tap over your wrist pulse points when you get in to cool your whole body down quickly. Opt for summer clothing made of linens, cottons and other lightweight natural fabrics that will allow air to circulate around your body. Find a few stylish summer dresses and loose linen trousers and own that boho look for the hottest months. A piece of muslin fabric dipped in chilled water, wring out and placed around your neck is also a great trick to know when the heat is getting oppressive. Finally, if you do have ceiling fans, run them counter-clockwise to create a more cooling breeze for you and your home.

 

Keeping cool in the summer doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive – you can hack it when you know how!

 

*Collaborative Post

At Home and Clinical Anti-Ageing Methods

· Leave a Comment

skincare

 

If you want to keep your skin looking healthy throughout your life, you are in good company. That’s a goal for almost everyone. Nobody likes having unsightly wrinkles and other skin issues. The best way to avoid or reduce that problem is to familiarise yourself with at home and clinical anti-ageing methods.

Wearing Sunscreen in All Types of Weather

One great at-home tip is to always wear sunscreen. It doesn’t matter if it’s cloudy, rainy, or even the middle of winter. The sun is still in the sky, and the cloud cover won’t stop it from getting to your skin. Not only that, but damaging UV rays can also come from other sources, such as tanning booths. So, you should try to avoid tanning too often.

Using Natural Skincare Products Daily at Home

You should also make sure that you are using natural skincare products daily at home to prevent wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Don’t use products that are full of chemicals. Natural ingredients are safer. Focus on products that are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. You can even find moisturisers or other skincare products that contain sunscreen to make things easier on yourself.

As Soon as Changes Happen Get Help

It’s easy to dismiss one or two wrinkles or small age spots, but letting things like that go can only make matters worse. Before you know it they could multiply or create secondary issues, such as severely sagging skin. There are plenty of cosmetic lasers and other treatments that can take care of small problems easier than they can correct larger issues. Granted, there are also procedures like facelift surgery that can fix larger problems, but why wait until those are needed when a minor procedure can restore your skin health early on?

Be Careful When Picking a Clinical Treatment

When you’re ready to pick a clinical treatment for skin problems, you have to be careful to choose one that is meant to treat your skin issues. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels can treat surface problems, but they can also interfere with the colour of your skin, especially if you are darker skinned. On the other hand, many types of lasers can treat every layer of your skin, as can sound wave therapy and other procedures.

Each person’s skin is also at a different level on the dry to oily scale. If your skin is extra dry, you might be unable to have certain treatments. If it’s extra oily, a different set of treatments may be out of the question for you. Your skincare expert or your local clinic can recommend the best treatments based on the colour, type, and condition of your skin.

Caring for Your Skin is a Life-Long Process

Whether you have clinical skincare treatment like a laser procedure or not, caring for your skin is a life-long process. You should never stop your daily skincare routine. Although, you may have to alter it as you get older. The more diligent you are about taking care of your skin, the less medical help you should need.

*Sponsored post

Style my… Raise

· Leave a Comment

One of the things many of us dream of is getting a nice hefty pay rise, well actually the pay rise doesn’t have to be that hefty just as long as long as we are shown that we are valued for our work and the pay we get reflects that is something I’m sure most of us would be happy.
Now have you ever thought that one of the reasons why you aren’t getting that pay rise is because of your wardrobe choices? No? Well think again because it could possibly be one of the reasons as you also have to look the part no matter how hard you work. House of Fraser have come up with Style my… Raise, which gives great outfit inspiration on taking your work wardrobe from drab to fab in no time to help you get that raise you deserve.

As you can see in the video there are a multitude of ways that you can improve your work wardrobe to make you look like you are more than deserving of that raise with outfits that scream ‘I am ready, dedicated and coming for you’.

You can head on over to House of Fraser to shop everything from the shoes to the lipstick to help you get well on your way to getting what you deserve and investing in your wardrobe is the best way to see exactly where your salary is going.

What do you think about House of Fraser’s Style my… Raise campaign? Do you think that dressing to impress is the way forward in getting your hard work noticed?

 
 
*Partnered Post
 
 
 
 
 

Keeping Your Make Up Slip Proof In The Heat

· 2 Comments

Summer-Make-Up
It seems that we have come over in a heatwave here in the UK which is great as we severely lack the sunshine in the best of summers. Now I am the first one to love the heat and sunshine I just don’t like the awful humid heat that we seem to be prone to in such built up areas especially because it seems to melt your make up right off and lets face it no one really wants to look like they went ten rounds with a five year old and a baby wipe once they get to where they are going.
Lets talk about base products first because they really are the key to starting off your make up. Some people like to just get rid of them altogether in the summer but I personally can’t because I hate the way my skin looks at the best of times and in the sun I really need something that stays put so that is where my Illamasqua Skin Base comes into play or my Vichy Dermablend Foundation as they are both long wearing high coverage foundations. To thin them out a bit as they can feel heavy on warm days I add a little bit of MAC Fix+ as it really works well to give it a lighter consistency with the coverage still there plus it really helps with keeping it all in place.
Its all well and good creating a good base for your other products but if you don’t set it properly you will definitely start to notice the slip so I find using a powder like Vichy Dermablend Loose Powder really works to not only keep your make up put but also to smooth out any flaws that are left on your skin giving you a completely even base to put your other products on. I usually leave out bronzer as the heat sets in because I don’t feel the need for it half the time and want to keep my make up looking as simple as possible so just stick to blusher like the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush as it really does stay put throughout the day.
For my eyes I always go with a mascara that stays put and is completely waterproof like Diego Dalla Palma Semi Permanent Mascara and if I venture into wanting some colour on my eyes I will swipe on one of my Maybelline Colour Tattoos as they really stay put for the whole day with such minimal creasing. To finish off and set my make up I use a fixing spray with my favourite being Mac Fix+ yet again as it really does pull all your make up together making it look fresh and helps to keep it in place all day – I also keep it in my bag to freshen my face up through the day.
What do you do to keep your make up put in the warmer weather?

Keeping Your Hair Frizz Free in The Heat

· 3 Comments

Something I hate about the summer is how much my hair just seems to get bigger and bigger as the day goes on, I have natural curls as a lot of you may know but sometimes under all them curls I get so hot so I have to opt for the smoother sleeker option of having my hair straight but then I run the risk of the humidity getting to it and my hair starts to form a frizzy halo with curly roots and ends that start to kink. I have however over time nailed the whole smooth non frizzy hair with a few simple products.
First off you need products targeted to how you want your hair to be and for fighting the frizz I have found the Umbeto Giannini Frizzi Range to be perfect for this as they really work and if you have read my review of them you will know that I highly rate them and have repurchased them a couple of times since I was introduced to them. After using the shampoo and conditioner I apply a hair oil with my favourite of the moment being the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil and a small amount of Clynol Sealed Ends Hair Repair Cream, these really help to tame any sort of frizz and make your hair look smooth and gives the effect of damage free hair.
I then get a paddle brush to blow dry my hair directing the heat downwards so not to rough up the cuticle. I am absolutely loving the Remmington Silk Paddle Brush* for doing this as it has ceramic around the head which helps reduce drying time, ionic nylon bristles for helping to keep your hair sleek and a handy little sectioning pin in the handle. Once I do this I do follow with straighteners just to make sure my hair is completely smoothed over. Once I am happy with how my hair looks I then brush through with the Braun Satin Hair 7* brush which has iontech which helps give your hair more shine, tames frizz and reduces flyaways so I always make sure I also carry it with me to keep my hair in tip top condition and looking smooth throughout the day.
What are your top tips for keeping your hair frizz free in the heat?