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| lotion |
It was almost inevitable after having a week in the warmth and sunshine (or even the shade) and coming back to arctic conditions my body practically went into shock! Central heating also plays havoc with the skin and even when I am not on holiday I moisturize everyday with my favourite product Kiehl's Creme de Corps lotion and occasionally the body butter when my skin feels drier than normal.
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| body butter |
Four days back to my normal life brought flaking and peeling skin. Even after applying the Kiehl's my skin continued to flake which is not the most attractive thing, especially when I'm working on someone's face! Although my skin felt rehydrated, I could not hide the evidence!
We have a product in the make up room that we recommend to people with dry skin, eczema and dermatitis called Doublebase. It can also be used as a cleanser. At around £10 for 500ml it's good value for money.
As a last resort I decided to give it a try on my exposed arms and I can't praise it highly enough. The results were amazing. It immediately soaked into my skin and the appearance of dry flakes disappeared completely! It's actually halted the peeling action and I have now gone back to my daily regime and soft, healthy looking skin.
Product description below :-
Doublebase gel, shower gel and wash gel all contain two active
ingredients, liquid paraffin and isopropyl myristate, both of which have
moisturising properties.
Liquid paraffin and isopropyl myristate work by replacing lost
water within the skin, and by forming a waterproof barrier over the skin
surface. This prevents water within the skin from evaporating and keeps the
underlying skin hydrated.
Doublebase is useful for dry skin conditions, such as
eczema and
dermatitis, which get worse when the skin is allowed to dry out. Used
regularly, it helps restore the skin's smoothness, softness and flexibility by
replacing lost moisture and helping the skin retain moisture. This helps reduce
scaling, redness and itching.
Doublebase gel can be applied directly to dry areas of skin. It can
also be used before, during and after showering or having a bath as this helps
to stop further drying of the skin. After showering the skin should be patted
dry using a soft towel before applying Doublebase gel as a moisturiser.
In dry skin conditions such as eczema, using moisturisers and
moisturising shower gels regularly, even once the skin has improved, can help
prevent flare-ups.
Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/skin-and-hair/medicines/doublebase-gel.html#ixzz2OkJQUEVr
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| Amaryllis Beach resort |
I have just returned from a fabulous week's vacation on the island of Barbados. If you've read my past blog posts you'll know I've been there before so I kind of knew what to expect. This particular week was all about relaxation and recharging flat batteries after weeks of the cold dark winter. One thing you can rely on with the Caribbean is that you are pretty much guaranteed great weather at this time of year - copious amounts of sunshine and consistent temperatures - and virtually no threat of hurricanes. We stayed at the Amaryllis Beach Resort which was lovely but could do with a make over. We were told more than once that it isn't what it used to be. However the staff were great and it's location is perfect - the beach more than makes up for it with it's mature coconut palms giving shade, beauty and atmosphere.
Each day was the same routine .. up early, coffee on the balcony then off to the gym or a walk on the beach before breakfast at the beach side restaurant. Then it was grabbing a lounger and parking it under a palm tree, settling down with the ipod on and a book in hand. Intermittent swimming in the crystal clear warm sea followed by lunch at the beach side cafe and more of the same in the afternoon.
The sun set around 6pm every evening and graced us with spectacular displays of colour and light over the sea. A truly blissful way to end a perfect day.
Every night we went out to eat and we were never disappointed. We went back to our favourite restaurant Champers which overlooks Accra Beach on the south coast. The food is consistently good and the service impeccable. Another restaurant which I would highly recommend is Daphne's which is on the west coast also located beach side so while you eat you are serenaded by gently rolling waves crashing on to the shore.
The pièce de résistance of the dining experience though was going to The Cliff just down the coast from Daphne's. It's not always easy to get the reservation you want, but if you book well enough in advance you should be able to get your preferred date. The cost per person is BDS$245.00 incl. VAT for a two course meal
(starter/main or main/dessert) and BDS$285.00 incl. VAT for a three
course meal, and you will be required to leave your credit card details when you book. You need to give them 24 hours notice of cancellation or reduction of numbers or you will be charged! Good to know this as you don't want to get caught out. Everything about The Cliff is fabulous - the cliff top location with crashing waves against the rocks, the food and service are second to none. A lovely romantic setting which would be ideal for a wedding or special occasion. Looking over the railings on the night we went, we spotted shoals of barracuda coming in to feed .. they are rather large menacing looking fish, but boy they taste good!!
All in all a fantastic week - sun, sea and seafood and plenty of sleep too .. we've come back ready to take on the next slog of work in preparation for the next one!!
As usual, we flew direct from London Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic.
Next month I will be taking a long weekend break to Marrakech in Morocco .. something quite exotic to look forward to! Excited or what!!
