Neom Complete Bliss Hand Cream

As a new Mum you wash your hands several times a day, before/after feeds, before/after bathroom breaks (to prevent cross infection), as well as hot soapy water to wash feeding bottle. Your hands really do suffer, they get drier, itchy and all the cuticles get cracked. My gorgeous pregnancy nails were a thing of the past (pictured here with Essie's For The Twill of It on), I was left with short flakey below par nails.

I had got this 50ml size in one of British Beauty Blogger's infamous blog boxes, and have been using it an intense evening treatment. Neom is more known for it candle ranges and me being naive, was surpised that they did more than that in their range.

Complete Bliss main ingrediant is Moroccan Rose, which is aromatherapy is used for drier skins as well as soothing, it also contains vitamin A&E packed Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, Rosemary Leaf & Pomegranate for noisturent. Pnnk pepper and lime give the scent an uplifting, fresher tone that stops the rose from over powering the product. The constitancy is rich but still sinks in without resdue.

Neom only sell this in a 250ml pump bottle for £18.00 (this is 7p per a 1 ml) through their website. However I have spotted some going for £13.00 so its worth having a search for. This would make a luxury present for a new mum and like me I'm sure they would appreciate a little luxury after a long day with a newborn.

Masterclass - What is Foundation?

This would be the most essential bit of nit of kit you will ever own, finding the perfect foundation is any woman's holy grail. Foundation provides a blank canvas that lets other colours sing. It also provide a barrier for the skin against the environment and with some also contain sunscreens. Foundation is there to enhance your natural skin tone, provide a smooth even skin tone, and minor blemishes.

Before foundation - Uneven tone around the nose and cheeks, oiliness and the odd blemish

After foundation (full face of make up) - All one tone, eyes are highlighted because all of the above are evened out.

Most foundations are an emulsion of oil and water with colour pigments that can vary the texture and effect of the product.

Cream

Cream blend easily on the skin the majority are oil based, cream foundations are a mixture of wax, powder and glycerol (but can vary brand to brand). Generally they leave a medium coverage and require a powder of adsorb any excess oil left on the skin after application. The ones designed for oilier skin contain a higher portion of powder.

Liquid

Thinner version of the cream, has a higher proportion of water compared to the cream. This has lighter coverage than the cream version and let more the natural skin through. In some alcohol is replaced so it evaporates on the skin and leaves a powdered finish. If a foundation oil based then it is more suitable for drier skins, water based for greasier/combination skins, and alcohol based for greasy, acneified skins.

Gel

The thinnest coverage that is more suited for summer time where a lot of makeup can irritate skin. There are more suited to tanned, black, and unblemished skins. For black skins this can be better as it doesn't contain powder that can make it look dull and grey.

Cake/Compact

Easy to use and carry, can come in a compact or stick. It contains a higher level of powder so this gives it a higher level of coverage, and is mostly used in photo, theatre and fashion shoots because it goes on flawless, but can feel heavy on the skin. Applies in thinner layers can mean it can be build up to coverage that is needed.

The best way to store foundation is in cool places away from direct sunlight. Cleaning round the top of the lid before closing also makes the product more hygienic and not transferring germs onto the skin.

I find once you have found the holy grail it's very much like a romantic relationship, if they discontinue it you'll mourn like a loss of an ex!

Next week - Finding the right colour

Masterclass - Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the understanding of using essentials oils from plants can affect the physical and psychological of the client. The first record of use was ancient Egypt that used these extracts in embalming their dead (and also making them smell a little more pleasant). The Greeks also used an early kind of aromatherapy to treat aliments, including Hipprociates, the starter of medicine.

The term 'aromatherapy' was first coined by french alchemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse in 1910. Gattefosse burnt his hand after an experiment went wrong; he then plunged his hand in the nearest liquid - a vat of lavender oil and realise that this oil had increased the healing time. His first work, "Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles Hormones Végétales" (1937) is what modern aromatherapy is based on today.

Essential oils is a term that is form the liquid that is extracted from plants, which can be the flowers, leaves, stem, and/or wood. These are distilled from then using different methods like steaming and pressing, until the oil comes out. They are highly scented and should not be put direct onto the skin, they should be diluted into a base oil or water before use.

The most popular essentials oils are tea tree (Latin: Melaleuca alternifolia), a fresh, zingy oil that is anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-viral; and Lavender (Latin: Lavandula angustifolia), a woody floral that is anti-stress, soothes and calms frayed nerves. There are thousands of different oils, I have spent many an afternoon smelling scents and mixing my own blends. All true essentials oils should have their Latin name of the plant they came from on the label so you know its origin, unfortunately in this instance the manufactures ones are not up to standard.

Base oils (can be known as carrier oils as they 'carry' the essential oils) are slightly thicker than essentials oils, these contain nutrients for the skin. These are mostly pressed from nuts, seeds and fruit. The most popular in these are Almond oil, Grapeseed and Evening Primrose oil. Each have their own different nutrient value and are just as fun to mix up as essentials oil to produce the perfect treatment.

The way a treatment should be is that you will have a conversation with your therapist, and this can include how you are feeling as well as general medical issues. The therapist should then select a blend to you to smell, this is your blend (as they mixed together) as well as discuss how you are continuing your treatment. I found the best way to have a massage, the movements are flowing soothing and you come away floating away. As a therapist I also like giving a massage not only for the effect on the client but also on myself as I receive the benefits!

I got into aromatherapy just over 10 years ago now and love it. You do not know how much it touches your everyday life. I love scents and smells, this lead onto my job for Boots as a Fragrance Consultant for 3 and half years. It is a fascinating subject that infuses chemistry, biology and phsyicology, that not only takes in the body but the whole well being of the client.

Next week: My next qualification - Indian Head Massage