So let's talk about skincare. I'll be the first to admit, I never used to give too much thought to skincare before. I was fairly lucky when I was younger and didn't have bad skin, besides the odd pimple and an oily-ish T-zone, so I never really thought too much about it besides washing it in the shower with whatever mum got me. But as I have grown older, I have realised that the better care that is taken of your skin, the better makeup will look on and the better you'll feel without it. I am no makeup expert.I literally think BB Cream is full coverage and don't even get me started on winged eyeliner. So, that being said, I realised I had to maintain my skin or start watching makeup tutorials real quick. So I took the skin option. Because to be real, makeup is expensive and I ain't got time for that everyday. So first thing is first, get to know you skin. There's no point having a skincare routine that is suited to dry skin if you've got oily skin. If you are unsure on what kind of skin you have it's best to go see a specialist. Treat yo'self and get a facial and ask them what they recommend you should do to look after your skin. Once you know what kind of skin you have you can test out a few products to see what you like. Personally, I always try and go with natural, cruelty-free products but also something that won't break the bank. I found the brand Sukin about four years ago. And I love everything about it. I love the concept behind the brand. I love that it's affordable, sold in Chemist Warehouse and sustainable. They have a range to suit almost every skin type, and I often find myself trying out different face-washes they have. I love the Exfoliating Super Greens one that they have but with the colder weather coming in I have been using the Rosehip Cream Cleanser. I usually wash my face in the morning, apply a toner to my T-Zone and then moisturise. I am currently waiting on my Jade Roller because apparently facial massages are all the rage right now and it's supposed to be incredible! Also, hot tip, if you can't afford to keep buying those hydrating eye pads, pop a mental spoon into the freezer and whack that on your eyeballs in the morning. It'll help reduce the puffiness!! In the evenings I wash my face again and then just apply the SANS oil to my face and neck. I love this oil, it's so light yet soooooo hydrating. I was always scared of putting oil on my face as I was prone to oily skin but this is magic. It sinks in and makes your skin 'baby-bum' soft. I love it. I have also become a fan of a weekly face mask. Not only does it feel like you sort of have your life together but it's also really nice to tighten your skin, reduce pores and promote clear skin. So, to see what I use look below. But trust me, makeup will come and go, you'll only have one skin (well not really cause skin like replaces itself all the time but you get what I am saying). So make an effort to be more skin conscious, give it some love and learn what works for you! SUKIN Facial Moisturiser - $5.49 Rosehip Nourishing Cream Cleanser - $6.99 Detoxifying Clay Masque - $8.49 Sans Ceuticals
Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil- $54.99 Ok, so the main reason to strive to become a Modern Goddess is to learn all the tips and tricks on life hacking. Because let's be real, it's so much easy to fit everything into your day if you can do this! A lot of what I do is all about time management (which I am not always best at), preparation and life hacks. So here are some of my (and other peoples that I have learnt along the way) skinny hacks for the busy Modern Goddess.
Firstly, diet is so important when trying to lose or maintain weight HOWEVER I like to have the freedom to kinda do what I please with my diet. For example, if I want to eat pizza, pasta and get a dessert after I will do so. So, because I am quickly creeping up to the age where your body starts to turn on you and gain weight just looking at food it means I have to exercise. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan. I can totally appreciate it, I know that it's important to do and that it's really good for you but I am not one of those people that absolutely love it. I tolerate it and I do it so I can have freedom in my choices to eat. I will admit, I like pilates and Yoga, I always feel so good after doing those. And, I like classes. Sometimes when I go to the gym I get lost, confused and end up watching a TV show while slowly walking on the treadmill (any movement is better than no movement, right?). But going to a class means you can kinda leave your mind at the door, its an hour of solid exercise without having to think too much which I love. When I go to the gym alone I never work out as hard as I would in a class. So I pretty much only go to the gym for those. I try to do pilates twice a week, yoga once a week and am aiming to do body pump twice a week too! If I'm not at a class I will do a workout at home and walk my dog as my exercise and I find that works pretty well for me. Another hack. Personally, and this isn't for everyone, I find that the later I eat in the day the less I eat. So, if I am up at 6am and eating breakfast by 7am, I find myself hungry again at 10am and then 2pm and then 4pm and then 7pm, get it? But if I can push back breakfast until 10-11 I don't tend to get too hungry again until dinner time. So for me, that's what I try doing during the week. I'll wake up and have a cup of green tea, water and a green juice to rehydrate my body. Then I have my coffee which is just two teaspoons of instant coffee, cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and a teaspoon of Maca powder with almond milk. That will fill me up nicely for the morning. I like to try have a smoothie around 10-11 as my first meal and then maybe snack on a piece of fruit or some nuts until dinner. Don't get me wrong, some times I wake up at 6am and feel STARVING. If that's the case I listen to my body and eat. It is so important to listen to what your body is telling you. If it's hungry then listen to it. Don't force yourself to eat but also don't starve yourself. Because I get nasty when I am hungry and ain't nobody got time for that. Try fasting. Literally it is so good for your body to reset and take a break from constantly digesting. It doesn't have to be some hectic fast either. I like to do it maybe 1-2 times a week but of course I have a cheeky hack for it. So I like to have an early, light dinner the night before. I'm talking like eat by 5pm something like soup, a veggie bowl or salad is good. Then I always try to go to bed early, usually I have a cup of tea before bed to stop me craving something else. Then you wake up, guess what you've already been fasting for 12 + hours, how easy was that? I try to stretch it out to about 1pm if I can before eating something super healthy like a salad. If that's not the easiest way to fast then I don't know what is. Oh and while you are waiting to eat please please please drink water and lots of it! Aim for like 2 litres before you consume any food. It's a great way to flush out your system! Wow incredible how much I can teach you isn't? Kidding, most of these things you probably already know but give them a go if you haven't before! Because seriously we are all way too busy to be dealing with diets and calorie counting and all the rest of it, no thanks. Live your best life, be your best you and strive every day to be a damn Modern Goddess, cause you basically already are. Love Ya x Wow, how's that title. Two things that can be the most awkward topics to speak about. But it is probably the number one thing that most couples fight or stress over. So I'm here to speak about Relationships and Money and how to create a healthy open platform for this.
So number one thing here is, every relationship is different. No one can tell you how to be in your relationship because no one but you and your partner are apart of it. If there is something that works for you two but seems weird for other people (as long as you are both happy about it) then by all means continue to do so. This is just what works for Shane and I and it may not work for you. My number one rule is, be open. Don't hide your money away from your partner because that can create problems. And this is more so when you are living together and pay bills, rent, mortgage whatever. Be honest with what you have, how much you can give each other and what you spend. I think it's really important to spilt things 50/50. So make sure, if you are both working that you are dividing your bills and expenses equally. HOWEVER, Shane earns a lot more than I do and sometimes (ok, lately a lot) he will pay the bill up front and I will (slowly) pay him back. We are happy with this situation and it works for us. The worst thing you can do, if you are the one who pays for most of the bills extra is to hold that over the other person. That's not how relationships work. You can't use that against them or to make them feel bad. Either you stop being the one who pays or you understand that it's now our money not your money. Also, don't track each others spending. Ok, if you are struggling with money and this brand new TV appears in your house and then a new Bed and then a new car - yeah may be time to rein it in and look at where your money is going. BUT if you are both earning money and working, you deserve to treat yourself and spend your money how you like as long as the bills are being looked after too. It is very freeing, especially as a woman, to be able to pay for your own shit. Or to be able to pay the bill at dinner when you go out. It's nice to have your own money and to feel free with it. It's just important to remember, if this person is the one you are going to spend your life with, that it's also important to be open and responsible with it. If you are bad with money, tell your partner. Ask them for help and guidance. Maybe like them open a savings account for you. They should want to help you and get you on track if they are good with money and you aren't. It's what relationships are all about, some people have certain strengths where others don't, it's normal. Use each other to make you, as a couple, stronger. Don't forget that you are a team and as that team you should want the best possible outcome for both of you. As a team, you also need to put in the same amount of effort to make the team work. Don't get lazy in your relationship. And also, don't let money become your goal. Yes, it's nice. Yes it makes things easy when you don't have to stress about if you are going to have enough. But, money comes and goes, it's not something you can take with you and it's certainly not something that you should value over your partner. It's an age old saying but 'Don't let money become your God'. Yes, you shouldn't be stupid with your money but at the end of the day it's just money. You can always get more, you can always spend more. Use it wisely but don't let it control you. If you are interested in perhaps getting a little more money savvy I highly recommend reading The Barefoot Investor. It's an easy read and has some really interesting and useful tips. Basically, you need to find what works for you as a couple but nothing can be better than honesty. |
Author - Jayde Heathcote
How to be a Modern Goddess in this Modern World | Recipes and Lifestyle for the modern woman Archives
January 2019
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