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Sunday 25 January 2015

Summer Skincare Routine


It feels like it's been a while since I did a skin-care routine post, while some products I think will always stay the same (my much loved Ultrabland ain't going anywhere) there are a few new bits I've been loving big time and have noticed a huge difference in my skin because of them. This is going to be more of a masterpost of everything I put on my face each day rather than a morning/evening one as I've done before. So I've split it into cleansing bits and then moisturisers and serums and the like instead. 


CLEANSERS.

Phew, I didn't realise how many products I use just to wash/buff my face. 9 to 5 is my morning cleanser - ideal for those of us who are low maintenance and ahem, a bit lazy. No toner needed - I just use a dollop about the size of my thumb nail and massage all over my face. I remove with a hot face cloth after - I find if there's any make-up has been pushed out of your pores over night (ick) this removes it beautifully and leaves your skin nicely primed for moisturiser.

In the evening things get a little complicated though because I'm a skincare junkie it really doesn't bother me. I start by removing my makeup with my most loved Lush product (big words knowwhatI'msayin') Ultrabland. This gorgeous waxy balm breaks everything down in no time and is fantastic for any skin type - no matter what season it is, how my skin is behaving (or not...) this little black tub of goodness sorts it. You can remove this one in the same way as 9 to 5 with a hot flannel but personally I don't like getting my facecloth all clogged so I use a toner and cotton pads. Typically I use Eau Roma Water but lately I felt like a change so am currently using Breath of Fresh Air to spritz all over before wiping cleanser, makeup and toner off in a few swipes.

I'm a big fan of double cleansing - I noticed a big improvement in my skin when I started doing it myself. Recently Lush released a range of new products including a soapy cleanser called Movis (that unassuming little brown square). It's a squishy cube of heaven - it leaves your skin squeaky clean but not stripped. I was dubious at first as foaming cleansers and I don't typically get n but this one is a different story altogether. It's mild and very gentle, smells a bit like bread (hah!) and has several oils in it to counter dryness. I'd still recommend this one only for normal to oily faces though - it might be a bit much for drier skins.

Finally, one of my top finds in 2014 was coconut Frank - I use this everyday without fail. You'd think a coffee scrub would be too harsh for the delicate skin on your face but the coconut formula is so hydrating and gentle I pat it all over and let it work its magic while I wash my hair/whatever. I leave the shower fresh faced, clean and hydrated. Serums seem to absorb better and are more effective after using Frank on my face as well.


MOISTURISERS/SERUMS/BALMS.

Typically I need a lot of moisture put back into my skin as although it can get oily it's actually a bit dehydrated. I drink 1.5 litres a day or more but none of it seems to end up in my skin?! Anyway - the creams I use are typically oil free and have hyaluronic acid which helps your skin absorb more moisture without getting oily.

The first one I apply is my Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturising Cream post-cleanse with 9 to 5. It settles my skin and creates a nice base without making me feel sticky or oily. I usually have a break between applying the two but after this I use the Mecca Cosmetica SPF30 daily moisturiser - it's a physical barrier rather than a chemical one which means my skin doesn't react. It's beautifully light (which is why I need to use it in conjunction with another...) and is fantastic for priming your face for foundation (or in my case usually a tinted moisturiser). Aside from that the SPF30 is by New Zealand/Australian standards which means it's very broad spectrum - I'll definitely be getting the bigger tube when the wee one runs out.

In the evening I pull out the big skin-care guns. After I get out of my shower and pat my face dry I put on 3 - 5 drops of Trilogy Rosehip Oil, either the classic of Antioxidant+ version are fantastic. Despite being an oil it doesn't clog pores and actually feels incredibly light. At times I use this alone without another cream after, it helps reduce redness and scarring so is great for healing blemished areas.

I feel like I've finally found my dream eye cream in the Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil eye cream. It gives so much life back to that area - something I hadn't found with any other creams or serums I'd used for my eye area before. It's light, very hydrating and showed results pretty quickly. Best of all the tub is very generous so I think this one will last me a long while.

Finally, you can't forget your lips - I can't stand that chapped feel (eurgh) so I apply a balm like the Hurraw! Moon Balm. These little tubes last a long time and for only $6 they're very affordable. When it comes to lip products especially I feel chemical free is best wherever possible and these are vegan and 100% natural.

I tend to like to stick to a few brands I really love with my skincare - I feel like it's a bit more cohesive that way and doesn't confuse the chemistry of my skin.

Any other products from these brands I should try?

Claire x
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Saturday 24 January 2015

Weekend Post: Read, Eat, Listen, Do #3


READ. I think I may have mentioned this year I'm trying to read a wider variety of books - I usually stick to the same kind all the time. I picked three that sounded good from Book Depository and clicked add to cart. This is the first of the three - I had a look through a few by this author and apparently this is the one that made Haruki Murakami a well known name worldwide. It's definitely pretty enthralling - it took me a few chapters to get into but I finished it in four days once I'd started. For me I struggled a little in the sense that the cultural background and setting for this is incredibly different to what I'm used to but it also added something new that kept me coming back. It's one of those books I almost find difficult to explain without really giving too much away but it has some really poignant bits that really stuck with me and I think would be relatable to most people in their twenties.

EAT. Stone fruit. Ahh summer, the time I can eat copious amounts of cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums. Need I say more?

LISTEN. I'm always listening to Lana at the moment (what's new) but I've added a few "older" bits. I'm one of those people who listens compulsively to things until I'm sick of them. Track currently on repeat is Bittersweet by Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul. It's actually quite good to be listening to while writing - which is exactly what this weekend will be filled with as I'm super behind with my drafting...thankfully the New Zealand weather is beautiful, I have a week off and my camera is primed and ready for a photo taking frenzy.

DO. I've been having a lot of makeup free days lately. The summer means my skin gets more sun and air than usual and I don't have that ghastly pallor I get in the winter that makes me look like I've died overnight and re-animated myself in the morning. This combined with a few new skin-care additions has meant my face has really cleared up - aside from the unavoidable hormonal breakouts everything is looking and feeling a lot more healthy. This combined with freshly tinted brows and lashes means I can go out quite comfortably with nothing at all on my face.

Right, time to crack on with some more photos - updated skin care and hair care coming soon.

Claire x
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Monday 19 January 2015

Name Change

If you follow me on Bloglovin or any other social media you may have noticed I've changed my name - I felt like this year I needed an update and I've actually used the URL "milestonefour" before and really quite like it. 

Essentially I kind of feel like I'm at that fourth major milestone in my life and seeing the direction my blog is going I felt it was a more fitting name for everything that's going on. 

Unfortunately milestonefour was taking on instagram (sigh) so I just added an 'x' on the end. My links are all updated so you can still click through on the side. 

New post will be up soon and I have my first week of holiday in a year next week - can hardly wait, I'll be drafting and photographing a lot during that time. 

Claire x
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Tuesday 13 January 2015

Dream Team #2


Having recently purchased the D'Fluff shaving soap and utterly falling in love with it I felt it needed to be in the next "dream Team" post. This one is of course products I love for smooth legs.

Typically I used to use more of a cream or oil for shaving my legs as the razor itself can be quite drying. When I sniffed D'Fluff in Lush for the first time, that heavenly strawberry bubblegum smell hooked me in. It's such a light and fluffy consistency and could be a little easy to use too much (because it's so luxurious to use) however a fingertip full is enough per leg to get a close shave, leaving your skin smooth, fluff free and smelling beautiful. It's not at all drying and doesn't clog your razor which is a big bonus for me (I hate having to rinse and scrub it out every time I use it). I bought the small tub to start off with but I can see myself committing to the larger size next time.

To follow up, adding moisture back into your skin is always good - typically I'd apply a cream but to compliment the sweet scent of the shaving soap I like to use the Strawberry Feels massage bar. I stocked up on these before they were discontinued (they've since come back - hooray!) and they last a really long time. They're especially great for really dry summer skin and travel really well too - no mess in your bag like if a bottle lid accidentally comes off. As they're solid they're also preservative free and obviously water free so your skin is getting the maximum amount of hydrating goodness from all the oils and butters used to make these.

I love these two for sweet smelling and smooth skin - the shaving soap is really mild on sensitive skins and the massage bar is lovely and melty in summer heat. Another bonus is they're both from Lush - so only one stop is needed if you want to purchase these beauties.

Claire x
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Sunday 11 January 2015

Weekend Post: Read, Eat, Listen, Do


READ. I'm always reading something and this week I finished reading You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh. I've had this book for a while but as it's not a "story" as such it took me a while to get really into it. What with it being a new year and all that I finally sat down in a quiet place in the bush near where I live - it seemed a more fitting location than the lounge. Essentially this book tries to communicate how to effectively reduce stress in your life, deal with your problems and appreciate right now. A lot of people (myself included) seem to always be hanging out for the next weekend or event or party. When you think about it this way, five sevenths of your life you'll be wishing it was a different day. This book also gives you advice on how to control your own mind and emotions rather than ignoring them which again a lot of people have a tendency to do. The breathing technique discussed in You Are Here is actually fantastic - it calms your mind totally as your entire focus is exclusively on your breath. I have a tendency to hyperventilate and the practice has helped with that - it's also great for when I'm at the gym as when you focus on breathing alone your body can actually push harder than usual - something like your mind gives up before your body will and when your mind is totally controlled your body is free (wow I'm so deep). Anyway - bit of a different one for me but if you're interested in this sort of thing it's a great read, it's not overly preachy (it is written by a Buddhist monk) and is quite a refreshing change from the usual fantasy/autobiographical/thriller novels that are so popular (and what I usually read).

EAT. Blueberries. I can't get enough of these things and I get through a punnet every day. They're so good for you, make me feel really healthy (especially when I have them with a cup of green tea every morning at work) and now it's finally warm and sunny taste fantastic. I consume these year round - in winter I just substitute for frozen ones in smoothies (which, to be fair, I have every day in summer as well...). You can see one of my smoothie recipes here.

LISTEN. I've been a bit all over the place with my music at the moment but recently I've been listening to Lana Del Reys Born To Die quite often - in particular Burning Desire, Blue Jeans and Without You. If I'm feeling like a soppy bitch she's amazing - her voice is one that literally gives me goosebumps and I love listening to her on long drives home when I've been out. Otherwise my favourite song is actually I Need Your Love - been around a while but I feel like I'm only just appreciating it now and it's one of those ones that somehow sounds better with summer weather...does anyone else know what I mean by that?

DO. A big skincare binge. Post-new years I abused my skin a bit with too many drinks and too much sun. My poor face was an unhappy mess so I've had a makeup free week (shock horror, mascara and filled in brows only). And have been slathering my face in oils and creams and it's looking far better. Naturally in the kiwi sun skin damage is pretty likely, I've already got a handful of new freckles gracing my cheeks and nose. I've just purchased this gorgeous Mecca Skincare SPF lotion - it's gorgeous and light and creates a physical barrier with titanium dioxide rather than chemical. For sensitive faces I think it'll be a dream - part of the reason my face reacted so badly last time I think is it doesn't like sunscreen chemicals. I'll let you know how it fares when I take it for a test drive! I think an updated skincare routine may well be in order soon as I've added a few little gems to my arsenal. Today I picked up an utterly edible smelling facemask from Lush for free (gotta love dat black pot policy) - Oatifix to hydrate and soothe it further. I'm also treating my hair with a hair oil as I type - perhaps a summer hair care post is overdue as well?

I've got three new books on their way in the post as we speak so no doubt there'll be another post of this nature soon. What's the preference? I feel like I like doing these posts more than conventional "what I did this weekend" posts personally.

Claire x
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Thursday 8 January 2015

Gym Routine

I was struggling on which idea to go with for my first post for the year - then I realised given it's a new year and everyone is on the "new year new me" bandwagon a lot of people will be heading back to the gym. To give you and idea of a new workout, some new exercises or just out of interest I thought I'd put together what I do when I go the gym. Towards the end of the year I was getting a bit slack - it'd been a long winter, I was pretty worn out and run down which resulted in a once-a-week-if-I'm-being-good workout. Now it's a new year, I've had a bit of a break and the weather is beautiful (not to mention it's bikini weather here in New Zealand too) so I'm back into my three days a week routine. Rather than trying to describe how to do each exercise I thought listing what I do with links would be more helpful.
Blurry photo because I was hauling ass and the screen clears if you stop for more than a few seconds. 

Cardio - Generally I like to start with a bike to warm up - I used to avoid cardio like the plague as with my metabolism/body type I tend to drop fat quite quickly this way when I'm more aiming to put on muscle. However I can't seem to stop with the cycling, I usually crank it up to fairly high intensity and smash out a 5K ride in about 10 - 15 minutes (depending on how energetic I'm feeling). This warms up your muscles nicely and I find I can do heavier weights more easily afterwards. This is especially important in the cooler months when your circulation often isn't as good and your overall body temperature is lower. Cardio before weights seemed (to me) to decrease the amount of achy bits the day after.

Weights - I'm not sure if I love weights more or less than cardio but they're definitely something I look forward to doing. Seeing the amount you can lift increasing is always satisfying.

Leg Press. 
I like to get straight into leg work after my bike, starting off with leg press. With all exercises I tend to do 3 sets or 8 - 12 reps. With anything super heavy I'll often do a slightly lighter load to start off then move onto the heavier weights after. E.g. start on 40 kilos for a set of 10, then do 2 - 3 sets of 8 on 50 kilos. Leg press is great for your legs all over - depending on where you place your feet/how deep back you can let the plate move towards your body it's fantastic for your quads, hamstrings, inner thighs and butt muscles. If I've done a hard set on leg press the day after you often feel like you've been sitting on a horse for too long but I like to tell myself that just means I'm building muscle (hah!).

Following this I do sumo squats.
I use a kettle bell to make them harder (at present only 12 kilos) and am working my way on getting back to the bar and doing heavier weights again. Typically I do 3 x sets of 12.

Chest press 3 x 8 - 12 reps (depending on the weight). 
This guide is actually really comprehensive and helpful - I've noticed a big difference in all over upper body strength from these and actually really enjoy doing them.

Shoulder press - 3 x 8 - 12.
Similar concept to chest press in that you're lifting the dumb bells above you into a diamond shape but this time it's using different muscles in your arms and shoulders meaning you're more balanced. Doing too much of one exercise and not balancing it out with others will mean your muscles can only gain so much - you need all over increases to make much progress.

Dumbbell row - 3 x 8 - 12. 
This one is really hard to explain but very simple once you see it. It's important to keep your elbow close to your side while lifting like this to avoid injury and actually engage the muscles correctly.

Core work - as much as I don't really enjoy it I think a flat/toned stomach is one of those things that's worth the short period of unpleasantness. I don't do a hell of a lot but these two balance each other with core and lower back and keep everything looking the way I want it. Aside from the exercise I do at the gym I sit on a swiss ball all day at work - it doesn't sound like much but doing this for around 8 hours a day really helps build up your core strength and balance. If you can stand the odd looks from colleagues it's actually totally worth it.

Russian Twists - Not sure how Russian these actually are but they're great for working your abs. I do 3 sets of 50 with 4 kilos in my hands and my legs raised to make it more difficult. If you're finding this too tough keep your legs flat on the ground instead. Three sets of 30 is an OK place to start if you're getting back into things.

Back extensions or 4 point kneel - Either of these help strengthen your lower back which takes some pressure off your core. I tend to do 2 sets of 20 for these and they help stretch you out after your workout.

Phew - I think this is one of the most word heavy posts I've written here! Hopefully it's of some interest to some of you - I often get a bit bored and change things up but I'm not really a fan of doing only one muscle group per workout - it feels a bit limiting to me. In terms of fitness goals for this year I mostly want to maintain the level of strength I've gained and increase my weights. I'm presently leg pressing more than my body weight and ultimately would like to be getting to 60 kilos (only ten more to go...!)

What are your goals for this year?

Claire x
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Sunday 4 January 2015

Weekend Post: The New Year

This weekend was a long one - beautifully stretched out and sunny as well for that matter. Unfortunately I don't have many photos to show for it (thanks for that S4 - the screen froze and totally let me down). However I will say it started on New Years Eve when I got to head out from work early, get ready then head out. I had an amazing night and actually started on one of my resolutions which was to actually get out more - living where I live lends itself far too easily to becoming a social leper and it's not a behaviour I want to encourage when I'm only twenty-two.

It's Sunday as I'm writing this - I was planning on seeing a friend for a beach day but I think I'm still too frazzled from Friday in the sun and the traffic heading back into the city means it's safest to hole up at home with a book. I did just that and went into the bush right next to my house - I've loved that little patch for as long as I can remember. It's a lot more overgrown than it ever used to be but it's still a lovely quiet spot for when you need to get away from the wifi, computer and people. I took a book to read and my Moleskin diary to plan a few more blog ideas for this year. Watch this space.




The picture above I love especially - if you look carefully you can just see the bridge that crosses the river. So close to civilisation as it were and yet you can barely see it. The street I live on is in the country and definitely one of those places that would be overgrown within a matter of years of people disappeared.




To those who have never been to New Zealand - the above tree is a pohutukawa. So lovely being able to lie under them at the beach. The red flowers bloom over Christmas (and drop little fluffy things on you if you spend too much time underneath them).

auckland-sky-tower

The photo that started the weekend - the fireworks were actually pretty decent this year. Was a lovely clear night and pretty warm too, especially considering new years eve has been rubbish weather for the last few years.

I can't wait to get into the year - I have a lot of plans for it and a lot of new goals as well. Keen to crack on with my blog and make it a bit more personal and only post things I'm happy with. Plans to travel are brewing as well - and thankfully my goal to get out more is already paying off. My 2014 round up is here if you want to read something more in depth.

New post will be up either Wednesday or Friday this week - I expect work is going to be a little frantic to say the least (eeek).

Claire x
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Friday 2 January 2015

2015

After my wee break from blogging I think I'm feeling more ready to get back into it with new ideas and more energy than I had at the end of last year.
2014 was a bit of a mixed bag, some good and some bad - I think I'll just highlight the good bits. A few really wonderful things happened, I've been working now for a year in my first real full time job. In that I've managed to pull myself up to a higher position with more responsibilities in an area I ultimately want to be in - which is PR and marketing. This year I've been offered the chance to go on a course through work, collaborate with the PR company my work uses and take the reigns on a few more projects. I know it'll be a busy year and full on trying to get everything done but I can't wait.

That aside in the last year I've also met and worked with some of the loveliest people several of which have turned into friendships. It makes going to work something I generally look forward to - everything is much easier when you work with a team as amazing as mine.

I've managed to make, save and spend more money than I've ever had in my life in the last year too. I'm by no means wealthy but learning how to budget more, pay off my car, be able to have that freedom to go out or buy something if I really want to is wonderful.

That reminds me - even having a car and now my license is one of the best things to happen to me in the last few years. Being able to drive to my mates place whenever I feel like it in my own little car with whatever music I want is one of the most liberating things that I never had before. Bit late to the driving party but better late than never right?

This year my resolution was really just to get out more, make the most of my twenties and do what makes me happy. Too much of the time I find myself doing the "sensible" or "right" thing even if it wasn't really what I wanted or what was going to make me really happy. Now I feel OK with leaving a situation if it isn't working, or changing something if it's not quite right. Your twenties are notorious for being that time of your life where you can be selfish - no marriage, kids or mortgage are stopping you from doing what you want. This time only last ten short years and I've already used nearly three of those up (eeek).

In terms of blog goals I think making sure posts are 100% exactly what I want them to be before publishing is going to be a priority. I'm thinking of reducing my posts to once a week for a little while to get back into the swing of it and see how I go. Working full time and trying to keep a blog afloat is definitely a challenge and one that I enjoy - I just don't want it to ever feel like a chore rather than a hobby. I don't want to put a number of followers as a goal - I'm really doing this because it's a creative outlet and something for me to look back on. Seeing comments from people who have enjoyed something I've written is more important to me than numbers.

Can't wait for this year to kick off properly - the last two days have already been amazing and new years eve was probably the best I've had in a long time - fingers crossed it's a sign of what's to come. Happy new years all.



Claire x
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