Supple feet

With autumn here and winter fast approaching, it's easy to let your feet go into hibernation, leaving crusty skin behind to snag on your bed sheets. Not me, I have a great routine for keeping my feet soft, supple and looking like they're summer ready.

Step 1 - Soak your feet in a bath of warm water for about 15 minutes. You might want to add either a moisturining body wash or some of your favourite oils. I recommend almond oil.

Step 2 -  Use a foot scrubber to get rid of the dead skin on your feet. Pay particular attention to your heels.

If you don't have a foot scrub, then create a mix with oil and sugar to create a sugar scrub and rub that all over your feet

Step 3 - Dry your feet and rub a thick petroleum based moisturiser all over your feet. Vaseline is a great choice, then wrap your feet in plastic, either use an old bag or some cling film/saran wrap. Pop on a pair of socks, which will help generate more heat and moisture and it also allows you to walk around the house without falling over.

Step 4 - Wash your feet with warm water and hey presto, lovely moisturised , soft feet

DIY clear plastic clutch with studded Adrinka symbol detail

Hello loves,

I've been in love with studs which are really big this season. As I have to save for my wedding, I don't have a lot of money to indulge in the latest trends, but I really wanted something with studs. So, why not indulge my love of studs, clutches and Adinkra symbols?

I decided to go with the Gye Nyme symbol which means - except God (I fear no body except God)

Several hours, pin pricks and blood drops later (from pressing in the studs) I finished this creation.

Not bad eh?

Kente print pillow dress

I decided to make a kente print pillow dress for my friend's daughter. I cut up an old dress when I purchased in Ghana and remade it into a kente print dress.

When life hands you lemons - use them to brighten your skin

I'm absolutely in Love with lemons for the skin. Lemons are a great way to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark marks or skin discoloration.

Lemons have vitamin c which have antioxidant properties and help produce collagen - a key ingredient for binding skin cells. The other benefits are that they help reduce discolouration, reduce acne and reduce oiliness.

You can either use processed lemon juice or fresh lemon juice. I use both interchangeably but fresh lemons are best.

Night time application.

To help improve skin appearance, I wash my face with a Simple face wash and then apply lemon juice to clean cotton wool and apply it all over my face. I leave it to dry for 5 minutes and finish off with vitamin E oil, or almond oil which has vitamin E oil. For night time, I always make sure I carry out my face wash and moisturising regime a few hours before bed to ensure absorption and to avoid loosing all my good work to pillows which suck up all the moisture in my face.

Day time application

It's important that if you apply lemon juice to your face during the day, that you apply a moisturizer with SPF 10 minimum. Lemon juice is acidic and  going out into the sun without adequate protection could result in even darker discolouration. If you're not sure, I'd suggest you only apply lemon juice at night,

Product review: Simple Radiance Brightening Face Wash

There are many skin brightening products on the market and I like many women, like to see a brighter complexion looking at me in the mirror. One of my favourite products for achieving brighter complexion is Simple Radiance brightening face wash.

I normally exfoliate my skin using a loofah sponge with a dollop of Simple Radiance brightening face wash. It has Mango extract, vitamin c and pro vitamin B5.

So, what does Mango extract do for skin?

Mango extract is an antioxidant, which helps protect skin from oxidation. Oxidation happens when your skin is exposed to free radicals in the environment which can break down skin and damage skin cells.

Vitamin c is another antioxidant, but it also helps with the production of collagen. It's also best known for helping to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark marks.

Pro vitamin B5 is known to prevent moisture escaping the skin thus improving skin hydration. 

All great ingredients for the skin and combined with gentle exfoliation, my skin appears visibly brighter.

I Simply love this product (pun intended)

Wedding hair: Natural hair verses everything else....

I'm having an internal debate with myself as to whether to go for natural hair or wig/weave/braids on my wedding day.

It's important to me to be my natural self, but I'm concerned that my hair length will prohibit me from having certain natural hair styles. I want my hair off my face, but don't want a plain bun. Most of the "off the face" styles have some sort of addition to the hair, but I did find a few that I'm considering.

I'm just worried I won't have enough length to carry off any of these styles.

Alternative styles below require me to add some fake hair or just wear a weave.

DIY Ankara print clutch

I made an clutch using an old plastic folder which I posted on Youtube. It's a pretty easy and simple way to make a clutch with none of the expense of a normal one. I was pretty pleased with my efforts. 

Envelope clutch with African print accents

I was suddenly inspired to make an envelope purse, but wanted to add some batik / ankara inspiration.

I'll post a video on how I did this later

Youtube Tutoral

Completed envelope clutch 

Clutch after I've halved it 

Now it's an even smaller clutch