Tuesday, 22 November 2016

#AskKiara Sleeping Problems

"I have a lot of trouble sleeping and I don't even know why." - P. Q

Hi there! 

Having problems with sleep is very much normal, what's keeping you up is very hard to figure out, but it can be from overthinking, not tired enough, too much sleep, overtiredness, or your body can be exhausted but your mind isn't. It can be everything from a-z,  but here are some tips that might help you!

(If not i suggest you ask your parents, or a doctor for some help.)

Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool. Noise, light, and heat can interfere with sleep. Try using a sound machine or earplugs to hide outside noise, an open window or fan to keep the room cool, and blackout curtains or a sleep mask to block out light.

Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including weekends, even if you’re tired. This will help you get back in a regular sleep rhythm.

Avoid naps. Napping during the day can make it more difficult to sleep at night. If you feel like you have to take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes before 3 p.m.

Avoid stimulating activity and stressful situations before bedtime. This includes vigorous exercise; big discussions or arguments; and TV, computer, or video game use. Instead, focus on quiet, soothing activities, such as reading, knitting, or listening to soft music, while keeping lights low.

Don’t read from a backlit device (such as an iPad). If you use an eReader, opt for one that is not backlit, i.e. one that requires an additional light source.

Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Stop drinking caffeinated beverages at least eight hours before bed. Avoid drinking alcohol in the evening; while alcohol can make you feel sleepy, it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Quit smoking or avoid it at night, as nicotine is a stimulant.

Goodnight, and I hope you manage to sleep awesome tonight!

Ina Paarman Vienna Bake Recipe

While looking for a recipe of something that I once enjoyed eating when I was little, I found the closest thing on http://www.paarman.co.za


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VIENNA BAKE RECIPE


You will need:

Utensils:



  • large mixing bowl
  • measuring cup
  • scissors
  • measuring spoons
  • wire whisk or fork
  • knife with serrated edge
  • grater
  • chopping board
  • 1 large ovenproof dish or 6-8 smaller ones



Ingredients:



  • 6 slices white bread crusts on, cut into 3cm cubes
  • 1½ cups (375 ml) grated gouda cheese
  • 500 g smoked Vienna sausages (frankfurters), sliced into 2 cm pieces
  • ½ cup (125 ml) parsley, chopped
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2½ cups (625 ml) full cream milk
  • 2 t (10 ml) Ina Paarman's Green Onion Seasoning
  • 200 ml Ina Paarman's Ready to Serve Cheese Sauce


Method:


Oil or butter the inside of a medium/large ovenproof dish or 6-8 individual dishes. Toss cubes of bread, grated cheese, sliced viennas and chopped parsley together in a big mixing bowl. Turn out into the oiled ovenproof dish.

Use the same mixing bowl (no need to wash it). Break the eggs into the bowl, add the milk, Green Onion Seasoning and Cheese Sauce. Whisk together with a wire whisk or a fork until evenly blended. Pour this egg mixture over the bread and Vienna mixture in the oven proof dish. Cover the dish and leave to stand for at least 1 hour, so the bread can soak up the liquid. You can also leave it overnight in the fridge.

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. When the oven is warm [the light on the switch will go off]. Put the dish/s in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes (depending on size) until golden brown and puffy. Serve with a nice tossed salad. Dress the salad with our Honey Mustard or Herb Dressing.

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Hope you guys will enjoy this as much as I do! Be on the lookout for more recipe posts soon!

Sunday, 20 November 2016

Short Notice

Hi guys

Sorry for being so quiet lately. I haven't had any time at all to blog as my schedule is suuuuper hectic right now :( ! 

I have two more exams to write then from Tuesday onward I am finally free!
I have a ton of new reviews, #AskKiara's, and even a few recipes coming up.



Hang in there, lovelies 💜


- Kiara 




Thursday, 17 November 2016

Review: Elixir Skincare

Today the courier came guess what it was?
Some samples from Elixir Skincare!

Let's have a look:



Elixir Balancing Toner

Product Description:

Use this gentle toner after cleansing to remove any residue, restore pH balance, stimulate circulation, reduce oiliness and refine open pores.

Spritz face until skin is damp then tissue off excess, or spray toner onto cotton pad and gently wipe facial area. For normal to combination skin.

Size:100ml/ 250ml

INGREDIENTS: Distilled water, rose oil concentrate, vitamin E acetate, Santalum album (sandalwood), Lavandula officinalis (lavender)

A mild, odourless toner that is not harsh on the skin and purifies.


Elixir Balancing Cleanser

Use this light, balancing milk-based cleanser morning and evening to remove pollutants and dirt.

Apply to skin and massage in with fingertips to cleanse. Rinse well with water or remove gently with damp cotton pad. For normal to combination skin.

INGREDIENTS: Vegetable-based carrier lotion and carrier cream, water gel, surfactant, Santalum album (sandalwood), Lavandula officinalis (lavender)


Just like the toner, except this a cleanser and milkier. Lavender scented and gentle, but left my skin a bit dry afterwards.


Elixir Derma Gel Treatment Cream

Soothe, hydrate and purify your skin with this activating and rejuvenating treatment.

Massage liberally onto cleansed and toned skin. To treat dry skin, leave on overnight. For an oily complexion, leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse off with warm water and damp cotton pad; follow with night moisturiser. Suitable for all skin types.

Size: 50ml/125ml

INGREDIENTS: Aloe ferox, vegetable-based carrier cream, water gel, vitamin E oil, Eriocephalus punctulatus (Cape chamomile), Lippia javanica (zinziba)


Moisturised my skin quite a bit, happpy with the quality. Great texture.

Balancing Night Moisturiser

Product Description:

This rich formulation firms and nourishes your complexion while you sleep.

Apply after cleansing and toning face and neck. Gently massage in with fingertips, using upward movements. For normal to thirsty skin.

Size: 50ml/125ml

INGREDIENTS: Vegetable-based carrier cream and thickened carrier cream, sweet almond oil, carrier milk, Aloe ferox, Santalum album (sandalwood), Lavandula officinalis (lavender)

Another lavender scented night cream, it left me feeling confident in nourished skin before bed!

Multi Active Enzyme Exfoliator

Product Description:

Repairs damaged skin, antibacterial. Feeds skin, gently exfoliates and refines pores for a smoother skin.

This exceptional skin treatment exfoliator offers a mild skin peel that gently exfoliates using the lightly stimulating action of bamboo granules, fruit acids and papaya enzymes.  Rich in antioxidants, it repairs stressed and damaged skin. Aloe ferox gel fees the freshly exfoliated skin, offering a smoother, brighter complexion. Perfectly suited to mature or delicate skins, and gentle enough for frequent use. Can be used on all skin types.

Very impressed by this product, it removed dead skin cells on my face, causing me to reappear with more radiant, brighter skin.


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Thanks for allowing me to try out these tender products, Elixir Skincare!

For more info, be sure to check them out in the link below:








What's in my Avène Bag?

Hey guys!

So I got sent this this adorable parcel a while back from Eau Thermale Avène.




So, What's in the bag?


Below I will mention the products and a short POV:


1) Avène Cleanance Expert


- Helps eliminate mild to moderate blemishes, spots, and blackheads.
- Light emulsion that is quickly absorbed and leaves skin feeling hydrated and mattified

My POV

Quite watery. It blended easily into my skin but left my skin feeling quite damp afterwards. It definitely gave it a natural matte finish.



2) Avène Sunscreen SPF 30


- Suitable for oily, acne-prone skin
- Dry touch
-  Paraben-free
- Photostable
- Water resistant

My POV

Being thicker than the Cleanance Expert, I had to spend a bit more time rubbing this into my skin. Much to my dismay, it ended up like other sunscreens tat I have used in the past; leaving my skin oily and shiny. It did not have a matte finish on my skin. It did however, last longer than most SPFs.




3) Avène TriAcneal Expert



- Targets blemishes and marks
- Moisturiser

My POV

This has a peachy colour and scent. I much like the look of the product! It did not a greasy feeling when massaged onto my face and had a dry touch, with my skin itself not feeling dry. This is a great moisturiser especially if you want to get rid of those old acne scars and dark marks!

4) Micellar Lotion



- Cleanses and removes make-up in just one step
- Skin feels cleansed, soft, comfortable

My POV

It burned my skin, but got the job done. Odorless. Was not very powerful against my makeup.



5) Avène Thermal Spring Water



- Direct connection between spring and production plant
- Sterile packaging
- No expiration date
- For irritated skin

My POV

This was the first time I tried a thermal water spray and it was definitely an amazing experience. Odorless and clear, it reminds of a natural spring bath! Although this has so many different uses, I used it to sooth my eczema on the back of my knee. It worked a miracle and didn't burn at all and soothed my skin. This has got to be my favourite Avène product. 


I'd recommend the Thermal Water, TriAcneal EXPERT and the Cleanance Expert to anyone who is looking for a way to safely get a matte look on their skin, without all the harsh makeup!



A huuuuge thank you to Avène for sending me these amazing goodies!


Find out more about them here: