The Sanctuary Spa Skin Care

Hello there,

I have suffered with bad skin for years now, it's never been full blown acne everywhere, but I had a lot of spots and black heads and just yucky skin. For quite some time it's been something I've been incredibly self conscious about and as a result have covered myself in thick makeup to try and cover my imperfections, which in turn just made it worse. Along with having quite bad skin, I'm also pretty lazy when it comes to skin care and carrying out about a thousand different steps every day to combat my skin was just out of the question. Saying that though I have tried and spent lots of money on hundreds of products to try and help my skin, but really I've never stuck them out long enough to see any real benefits.

Well a couple of months ago now I decided to visit one of The Sanctuary Spa counters in Debenhams and asked for help. I was fortunate enough that they gave me a  mini facial so they could have a look at my skin more closely and decide what products would be best, after a gorgeous facial where they demonstrated some of their products I bought a range from them. (For those of you who watched my 'April Favourites' youtube video you can see the range there).

I got these products:

Fresh Faced Purifying Wash - http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/fresh-faced-purifying-wash-details.htm

Exfoliating Pore Refiner - http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/exfoliating-pore-refiner-details.htm

Pore Refining Toner - http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/pore-refining-toner-details.htm

5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask - http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/5-minute-thermal-detox-mask-details.htm

Matter Perfecting Hydra Lotion - http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/matte-perfecting-hydra-lotion-details.htm

Now I realise this seems like a lot of things for someone who can't really be bothered to wash her face, well I kind of got carried away, but I'm so glad I did. One thing I really find annoying is the whole motion of washing my face, mainly because I end up soaking myself and the floor and then my bathroom because a slidey death trap for the rest of the day, but that purifying wash (which I'm proud to say I have used twice a day every day since I bought it) basically doesn't require that much water. You squeeze a little out onto your hands then splash some warm water onto the gel, and then obviously rub it all over your face (it even takes off your mascara without hurting your precious peepers). I use the gel wash, the toner (which I just spray onto my face) and the lotion daily, the exfoliator twice or three times a week and the mask once a week (usually in the bath, I promise I do bathe slightly more regularly than once a week).

One thing I really liked is how quickly it began to make a difference to my skin, in just over a week my skin was noticeably better!

I would highly recommend this range, especially the lotion as it also works as a perfect base for makeup.

Hope you found this helpful and to any of you with bad skin out there, just keep trying new things and don't always get stuck using products "designed for acne prone skin" you can use other types too.

lots of love

Frank x

Lolly's Bikini Body

Hello there,

This week in England it's hard to believe that it is June, the weather has been end of the worldish and everyone has taken to dreaming of sunny days and lounging by the pool. I've even caught Lolly relaxing in the rare spots of sunshine on her back, eye's closed in complete bliss (really all she needed was sunglasses and a colourful drink with an umbrella). This time of year the main topic on every woman's mind is how to get that perfect summer body and to look hot in a bikini, well not me. On these days on rare sunshine and Lolly's lounging I have started to notice a pudding belly appearing on my beloved pooch, so my summer weight loss project is to streamline my baby dog. Mission: Lolly's Bikini Body is now in action.

Now as the weather is beginning to pick up I will be walking away the doggie gut and will let you know if there are any exciting products (yes I know not many of you will be excited in dog products but this is my blog so... there) I've found to aid her loss and hopefully we'll have a supermodel dog in no time.

I'm so sorry I haven't been making videos on youtube or posting very much at the moment, I have a number of personal reason's for this which I'm sure I'll go into at a later date. I will be trying very hard to get back into the swing of things, I have lots of things I want to write about and film (Chris and I are going to be doing a few vlogs on my channel which is exciting). 

lots of love

Frank x

Famous Dave's

Hello there,

I'm sorry it's been so long since a blog post, it's even longer that I've made a youtube video. I've unfortunately had lots of bad things happen at once which have occupied my time, and I've had to leave my new job. (boo! :'( ) So, because of this I now have much more time on my hands and so will be posting a lot more. I received a comment on one of my previous blog posts asking me about a fake tan I had referenced previously, and once I'd got passed the excitement that someone actually commented I thought I best complete the request.

Right I love fake tan, you all know this by now, but I am extremely picky when it comes one that I use regularly and repurchase. I'm going to admit something to you all now, don't judge me, I buy about 2 or 3 different fake tans a month (I think I need a tan intervention) so I know my stuff when it comes to tanning. My skin is naturally insanely pale, I mean almost blue and translucent, because of this I am always looking for a dark tan. Through many months of orange tan, tan that promises to be dark and then makes you look like a shade of gone off white (like white knickers that have been through the wash too many times) and streaky legs I have finally found my fake tan soul mate.

Famous Dave's tanners are only just beginning to get a lot of hype around them although die hard tan fans (like myself) have been aware of them for some time. They have a huge range of products from lotions and gradual tanners, to mousse and spray tans, along with everything you need to prep your skin with and application mits. One of the excellent things about this brand is that their tanners have a reddish undertone, now that might sound as if it's going to leave you orange and unnatural. In fact it's quite the opposite it makes the tan so natural and the hint of red makes you seem as if you have a slight sun burn. My favourite of their products is the Famous Dave's Tanning mousse (the normal one not the gold edition). The reason I like this is because it's super easy to apply as it as a really dark guide colour (which washes off), unlike some other fake tans you can go over the same spot over and over again and it will not effect the end result so all you need to worry about it covering all the white bits. Mousse tans dry much quicker than lotions anyway so you don't have to wait an age to get dressed. I usually apply at night time as the guide colour is so dark and then shower off in the morning.

This tan will last you about 4 days without you doing a thing, but if you moisturise daily you can extend the life of your tan to about a week, I tend to top up with Xen Tan transform after about 2 or 3 days.

The price of these products ranges from about £20-£30 pounds, you can buy from the website (just search for Famous Dave in google and be sure not to click on the BBQ'ing website) or buy from Debenhams. I'm not sure if other department stores carry them I'm sure most of the high end ones will.

If you are a tanorexic like me, these products really will change your life.

Well that's all from me today I'm going to go and cover myself in gravy browning.

http://www.famousdave.co.uk/

lots of love

Frank x

Quick tip

Goodness me! Two posts in the space of 5 minutes I'm spoiling you.

I have just remembered I started doing quick tips, well I have a cracker of one for you today. DIY all natural exfoliating facial!!

All you need is a lemon/ bottle of lemon juice, some sea salt, olive oil and cotton pads. First off take your lemon and juice it, you are now caught up to those who have bought lemon juice. Secondly take a bowl and mix together the juice, about a teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of olive oil. Right what you should have is quite a thick solution with the salt grains still intact. Wet your face with warm water to open your pores and now you're ready to exfoliate. Take a cotton pad and spoon on a bit of your mixture next rub this over your entire face, be careful around eye area. Obviously don't scrub too hard as salt is a lot more abrasive than other facial exfoliates.

Once you've scrubbed away all of your mixture rinse off your face with lukewarm water and pat dry.

This scrub should leave your face feeling soft and smooth as well as radiant. The lemon almost acts as a peel and along with the salt helps to reveal the new, brighter layers of skin. This might sound harsh, but the olive oil helps to moisturise and replenish your skin.

Beautiful!

Lots of love

Frank x

Nailed it!

Hello there,

As some of you may know I love all things animal print so imagine my excitement when I learned how easy it was to do this to my nails!

It really is easy... honestly. All you need is three paint colours and a liquid eyeliner (top coat if wanted). So choose your base colour and apply a couple of coats to your nail, wait for that to dry and now you're on to the fun stuff. You don't need any nail art tools, all you really need are two hands (apologies to my readers with hooves). So next you take one of your remaining two colours and apply a few dots randomly over your nails, repeat with your last colour. Once all of this is dry take your liquid liner and draw a few lines around the dots to mimic a leopard print pattern and then POW you're done. See really easy and really quick.

Ok so now I've finished with my beauty related item I thought I just put a quick note about general stuff. I think I should probably start by saying we unfortunately no longer have Gloria the goldfish, she tragically died early last week :( I think the fame of being a blog super star was just too much for her. Don't panic Esteban is still going strong and is loving having a bit of extra space in his bachelor tank. 

Right now onto human news, I recently started a new job which is super exciting and so far I love it, however I have been (and still am really) extremely ill over the past few days so I've had to take time off... I know rubbish first impression. Anyway I hope it will continue to be great and obviously any big new I will let you know. 

lots of love

Frank x

April Favourites

Hello there,

It's about this time of the month that the beauty guru's of youtube all post videos of their favourite products from that month, as a beauty guru in the making I thought I too would make such a video so here it is. I will list the products I mention at the end and in the near future there will be a full post giving an update of whats been going on and a full review of the Sanctuary skin care range.

Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden: - Deep Cleanse Facial Fresh-Faced Purifying Wash
                                                        -  Pore Refining Toner
                                                        -  Exfoliating Pore Refiner
                                                        - 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask
                                                        - Matter Perfecting Hydra Lotion
Joico K-Pak Deep Reconstructor Treatment
Urban Decay - Big Fatty Waterproof Mascara
GetLashed London eyelashes
Sleek Cosmetics - True colour lipstick "Peaches and cream"
Barry M - Bright Pink Lip paint.

Peace, love and lipgloss

Frank x

Summer, summer, summer time! (wish list)

Hello there,

I've been a bit nerdy recently and have spent days trawling through youtube looking at OOTD (out fit of the day) videos and lots of shopping hauls and they have really inspired me to create a summer wishlist of clothes and a few makeup products that I really want to purchase by summer time (cue Will Smith music).

Buttermilk Cut Out Back shirt - Topshop

Pima Knot Stripe Crop Top - Topshop

Grey Aztec Beaded Print Crop Fringe - Topshop

MOTO Patched Flag Print High Waisted Hotpants - Topshop

Donald Duck Crop Stripe Short PJs - Topshop

Cream print strappy cape fill playsuit - Riverisland

Beige print fill playsuit - Riverisland

Blue print joggers - Riverisland

Unfortunately for my purse this isn't all of the clothes that I want :( but they are the only ones that are on the internet. I am also on the hunt for some wedges and some cool black shoes for work. 

Now onto makeup (I promise this will be smaller)

True Colour "peaches and cream" - Sleek Makeup

Lip Tars - Obessive Complusive Cometics

A few other makeup type products that I really want to get are the Z- Palettes especially as they come in animal print!! I am really looking to expand my kit throughout this year so will update you with any new purchases. I may also start doing OOTD if I think I look particularly nice (so not that often as I tend to live in tracksuit bottoms)

I hope you enjoyed looking at some of the things that I'm yearning for, and if it inspired you for any outfits of clothes purchases I'd love to know. Please comment if you find anything that you think I might like.

Peace, love and lip gloss

Frank x