Taking a turn this week and doing something health/food related. I am someone that hates cooking, I find it so time consuming and it gets messy but since going vegetarian I've felt more creative in the kitchen. One night I was home alone and had no idea what to make so I came up with today's concoction. Since going to the naturopath and learning half my plate for lunch/dinner has to be vegetables to ensure I am having enough nutrients in my diet I thought I'd combine my greens with my favourite food in the world (aside from pizza) - pasta!

This meal took me about 15 minutes to both prep and cook so it's great if you need a last minute dinner idea. You can alter this to whatever you have at home and to your own preferences. To make this meal vegan, substitute out the feta or you could change things up by having zucchini "pasta".

What you need:

• Pasta (I used spaghetti)
• Olive oil
• Spinach (I used baby spinach)
• Lemon juice
• Broccoli
• Chili flakes
• Black pepper
• Himalayan salt
• Feta
• Nutritional yeast seasoning
• Garlic (I used this the second time around and it tastes better!)
• Pumpkin (again this is optional, as with any other veggies you'd like to add)

What to do:

1. Boil water in a pan with a pinch of salt. This is where you will cook the pasta.
2. For the "dressing" you need another smaller pan where you will combine the spinach, broccoli (mine were leftovers so they were already boiled), feta, olive oil, salt, pepper and squeezed lemon juice. Let it simmer until the spinach is slightly cooked. Once this is done you can take it off the stove.
3. When the pasta is cooked transfer it into your bowl (or bowls) and add the "dressing" on top.
4. Now is when you can add any extras. I added chili flakes, more feta and my nutritional yeast dressing.
5. That's it! Now you can eat and enjoy.

Greetings fellow beauty lovers. In this weeks post I am sharing a new discovery (for me), the LA Girl Pro Concealers. These have been raved about within the YouTube community for years, they're affordable and cruelty free so it was about time I gave them a go!

Once checking them out on a few sites here are the main claims I came across:

• Camouflage the appearance of skin imperfections
• Evens out skin tone
• Covers dark circles
• Minimises fine lines
• Provides customisable coverage

I can safely agree with all claims except the one I have italicised. I have not noticed it to minimise fine lines however I suppose it not creasing under my eyes could tie in with that? 

The concealer is buildable yet pigmented allowing you to really customise it to suit your preferences. I use fawn to add definition to my face and I can easily draw the lines all over my face without it "setting" so it is easy to blend even after some time on my skin. All shades buff out nicely and I don't have to powder my undereyes when using this. I do get one crease but thats normal for the way my eye bag is shaped, plus its nothing a little smudging out with my finger can't fix.

These are the three shades I own:

I wouldn't say that light ivory is my perfect shade although the peachy tinge works well to cover dark circles. I will pick up another more yellow toned shade to better match my face so I can use it on scarring/blemishes.

My favourite way to use these concealers is as a "contour" or to bronze. Because it is a concealer it provides me with the coverage I need while adding subtle yet effective definition. If you have scarring on your cheeks and want to cream contour I highly suggest you do it with a concealer over a "traditional" contour stick. In terms of using it to contour I love the applicator, it makes drawing the lines easy and precise. As for under the eyes or blemishes the applicator does apply excess amount of product - especially for someone that isn't big on the whole "highlighting" trend.

Overall I really do like these concealers and they will now be a staple in my makeup collection. I do understand the hype around them because they work really well at what they're supposed to do. For the price you really cannot go wrong with them and I see them working for any skin type. They're not drying or super hydrating - a nice mid-way hybrid.

Have you tried these concealers before?

If you are one of my Instagram followers then you would have seen on my story two weeks ago my fabulous peeling eyelids and eye bags. I would like to take a moment to thank winter, the wind and me running out of all my skincare products at the same time for this. Let me tell you, dry flaky skin and makeup are not a match made in heaven, they are the complete opposite. No matter what you do the pesky dry patches will always be on show and when it is your eye area it does look quite odd.

I have a very, and I mean super, basic makeup routine that I stuck to during my time of struggle which still covered my acne scarring, let my skin breathe and didn't enhance any dryness. This routine consists of 4 products but you can alter it and add depending on your skin. Mine was just really dry so I kept it as simple as possible.

The first step is either a primer, oil or moisturiser. With my skin I went with rosehip oil to prep and really hydrate my skin. To actually cover my scarring and even out my skin tone I used the best concealer ever for dryer skin types! The BareMinerals bareSkin complete coverage serum concealer. Anything that is a serum generally works well with my dryer skin so I knew this concealer wouldn't enhance it. I spot concealed only the reddened areas of my face completely leaving out the eye area. I had to rock my natural eye bags for a few days and let them be coated with coconut oil to fix the flaking. This concealer provides amazing coverage and I will include a photo so you can all actually see what I mean.

The last two products that I used were mascara and a brow product. Mascara helped to make my eyes look awake and bigger since I couldn't actually cover any of the skin surrounding it with makeup. I only applied mascara on my top lashes (which I normally do anyway because I hate bottom mascara on me). I filled in my brows lightly and the look is complete.

Again, I know this isn't much and I probably didn't have to write a routine on it but it could help out someone else struggling with extremely dry skin. If you have dry under eyes then I also recommend this concealer because it has a hydrating formula and won't turn cakey. I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading this weeks post!

Welcome to a new series I have come up with for my blog! Sporadically on Tuesdays I will be posting reviews of "controversial" products, sites or concepts. My usual posts will still be going up on Sundays so these posts will be a bonus surprise.

This weeks focus is ROMWE, an almost too affordable online clothing site that I always notice floating around as an ad. All clothes are designed and made in China and like I just mentioned, come with a very affordable price tag. I made an order to review their shipping, whether the items actually matched the picture and their quality - just in case you were thinking of placing an order, you can find out whether its worth it.

Sometimes when you see clothes or accessories at such a low price you question whether it is too good to be true. I picked up three clothing pieces (4 if you count the two piece as two items) from different categories. I will include an image from the site as well as a "real life" photo so you can see just how accurate they may or may not be.

Striped Bow Tie Open Back Multiway Tank Top with Shorts

$18.56 

(for the two piece)

True to image?

Yes - unless you want to be fussy and pick up on the neckline not being as scooped.

True to size?

Yes, but I do wish it came in an XS. I am 5 foot and generally a size 4 (US 0)/sometimes 6 and it was a little loose fitting as you can see in the image.

Quality?

I was super glad that this fabric is not see through, it is also pretty comfortable and lightweight for Summer.

Do I recommend it?

Yep! Their two pieces are up to date with fashion trends, affordable and super cute. Once I alter the top to properly fit my height I think it would be the perfect Spring/Summer outfit. I'd definitely pick up more two piece sets in the future.

Army Green Drawstring Pocket Hooded Sweatshirt

$17.23

True to image?
Yes and no. In the image the fabric appears to be thicker and more like your traditional hoodie. However, the colour and actual look of it is the same.

True to size?
The site has measurements so you can base the sizes off that. I do think the size I purchased (M) does run small to your usual medium. I generally purchase smalls in jumpers and they're loose on me however this one is still loose but fits (despite it being a larger size).

Quality?
You can tell the material it is made from is quite cheap since it is pretty thin. It is perfect for warmer weather I just intended to wear it in Winter.

Do I recommend it?
If you want a thin hoodie for summer then yes. If you want an actual hoodie to keep you warm then no. I also suggest you size up.

Cuffed Denim Shorts with Belt

$21.21

True to image?
Yes exactly!

True to size?
The measurements were pretty on point. I do wish they sold these in an XS though because they are a loose on me. The S would fit a size 6/small 8 however the belt allows me to tighten them to fit better (although I did have to create more holes to make it tighter). For reference I am a size 4 in bottoms because I have a small waist and since these are high waisted they sit loosely and fall down. They also aren't too short but this could be due to me being 5 foot and these already being too big for me, but they do sit well below my butt cheeks so if you're taller I believe these would still be ok.

Quality?
These denim shorts feel exactly like shorts I'd buy from Cotton On or any other store. It is actual denim, not the stretchy kind and I'm most impressed by these!!

Do I recommend it?
Yes!! In my next ROMWE order I'll definitely be picking up more denim.

Lastly my order arrived just under 2 weeks. I opted for the free shipping method and paid the $1 something in case my order was lost they would ship out another free of charge. I have read and seen that shipping took a month for others but I had no issues at all. I would personally order from this site again however, don't expect the quality to be amazing with every clothing piece as these are "cheap". There will be hits and misses, like my hoodie, but that is to be expected. Make sure you read all the info provided to see what the material is and for size references as they are very explicit in telling you all measurements. If you do that then you will have a lot more success with your purchases. Personally because I am (possibly) the tiniest adult on earth I will always go for a small because I know that is closest to a size 6. I will have to alter any pants, trousers, skirts or shorts I ever receive from them and really do wish they had smaller sizes. If you're not like me then they will most likely fit you better!!

Stockings are always a cooler weather staple as they make wearing "summer" clothing items a breeze. The one negative with a lot of stockings I've worn in the past were that I would always have to pull them up. If you went to a school and stockings were in the winter uniform I am sure you can relate 100%.

Scholl's newest release - Light Legs Compression Tights ($24.99) - don't do that whatsoever, plus they provide gradual compression to prevent tired or heavy feeling legs at the end of a long day. The tights come in a natural and black colour and are either 20 or 60 denier. My personal favourites are the black 60 denier because they keep me warm, go with everything yet are super comfortable. I have included my go-to look as well as a few other spreads I put together throughout this post. If you need new stockings or want to know how they work then definitely check them out here.

My go-to outfit:

*Some of the items I am wearing were purchased in Italy so I found the closest duplicates I could. Also I am very short so the jumper is a dress on me.*

Boots $80

Beanie $7

Jumper $29.99

Stockings $24.99

Jacket $119.99

Other outfits:

Stockings $24.99

Dress $89

Shoes $65

Coat $28

Skorts $17
Top $9.50
Shoes $79.95
Stockings $24.99
Bag $70

Disclaimer - These stockings were sent to me for the purpose of this post. I only work with companies I would personally support or purchase from myself. For more information click here - disclaimer

Hey everyone, I am finally getting up the 5th blogpost in my Skin Diaries series. This one is probably the most exciting as it is the first one that I will include what the naturopath I saw had to say as well as something that terrifies me, but I think will be very helpful. I have decided to include photos of my skin in these blogposts so we can all track my progress and see if products are working or if there are any changes.

I was going to delay attaching photos as much as possible but I think I will post them first up to get it out of the way. These photos were taken in natural day light and it is when my skin is at it's worst - my time of the month. You will notice that front on my skin isn't actually that bad, I have a few blemishes that always come up around period time but for the rest of the month don't really hang around. Prior to getting my period my skin was pretty clear and I was having a good run, it just always goes downhill when it's time.

When I turn my head and show my cheeks that is where things get worse. Here is where all my scarring is as well as a mixture of blemishes again thanks to my hormones. At the moment I am not worried about fading scars as much because I can't use my dermaroller while I have active acne. So once I sort out my pimples, these posts will be dedicated to scarring.

I left my forehead out as that is the clearest part of my skin. I barely ever get any pimples there so I didn't see a need to include a photo of it. If you don't know the cause of my acne or anything about my journey then please go back and read my other Skin Diaries or even the first one which is where I go into detail on my story.

I think the layout for this Skin Diaries will be different to previous ones as I want to include as much as possible that the naturopath has told me. I will break it up into Naturopath (which will now include supplements, diet and fitness), Skincare and Beauty.

Naturopath

Overview

Obviously what the naturopath and I have discussed won't be 100% suited to your situation so if you are interested in the natural route or anything I mention please consult with your own health practitioner. In terms of my situation my naturopath and I have been working on my gut health (since the beginning of May) as she believes that could be a cause and building on from that we are also working on my hormones and trying to regulate them which will then aid in the acne department too. She has also altered my diet which I will go into detail later.

Vitamins/Supplements

When I first saw my naturopath she didn't want to prescribe me anything immediately as she wanted to ease my body into it. I started out taking a nettle tea and was directed to have two to three cups a day. Here is a website I have found to list the benefits of this tea.

After my second or third session is when I was prescribed natural "medication". I take three capsules a day to aid in digestion (this is moreso for my gut health) as well as a probiotic 1x daily, which has now become a powdered version once daily (this is to again help my gut as I suffered from a lot of illnesses). I am not 100% sure if these supplements will directly aid in my skin as it is mainly to improve my overall health and help me gain weight (another thing I am struggling with lately).

One supplement that I am taking which is better linked to my skin is liquid zinc. I take 6 drops four times a day (if you want to have zinc please don't go by my dosage as I had to build up to this and some people don't need or can't tolerate zinc!! Speak to a professional first!). I initially took this as a zinc drink but am not able to apply it topically to my skin. I haven't done this yet but from now on I am going to do this and see if it helps. The naturopath made it clear that none of what I am doing will work within a week or even a month. It is going to be a longer process than the "pills" doctors prescribe as you are actually fixing your body/hormones this way not just patching it up with a "bandaid". In saying this I have been taking the zinc for a month and I did find my skin didn't break out as much prior to my period but like I mentioned above, I have broken out pretty badly now that it is period time.

Diet

Again my diet is suited to my own concerns (skin/weight/etc.) and has been constructed to suit myself. I don't eat meat so we came up with alternative ways for me to still get protein, omega and healthy fatty acids. I also don't have sugar so there was no need to cut that out of my diet. If you love sugar and are thinking of ways to alter your diet to better your skin then I do recommend you cut back greatly on your intake.

My diet pretty much consists of fish 3x a week, eggs, half my plate being veggies for every lunch/dinner (greens are best to improve skin!) as well as oats + an assortment of seeds/nuts with coconut milk for breakfast. If any of you are interested in what meals I make/eat in a week I can do a proper post going into detail. This is just a rough overview of the main suggestions the naturopath gave me.

Fitness

Between my last Skin Diaries and this one I did go to the gym and started weight training. Mainly to help me gain muscle (increase my weight) but exercise can also benefit your skin. I have since stopped the gym and do weight training occasionally at home. If I am not doing that I try to get myself to do yoga or meditation to relax/destress and also get some exercise into my life.

Skincare and Beauty

Skincare

I've cut back a lot again this time. In my last one I think I introduced more into my routine but have decided against that method once again. I now use one cleanser - Natural Instinct Replenishing Cream Cleanser (suggested by the naturopath). This cleanser is very gentle and doesn't strip or irritate my dry skin at all. It is pretty basic and very affordable but it works well. I still use the exact same cleansing oil to remove my makeup and pair my cleansing with either my Foreo or Clarisonic.

I ran out of my Sukin exfoliator and haven't purchased another yet. I know exfoliating is essential but I've been substituting it by using a cleansing device just to give my skin a break. I will probably purchase a proper exfoliator eventually.

Moisturisers are still my Sukin and The Body Shop ones. As well as my beloved Rosehip oil. I don't do as many face masks unless my skin feels congested or overly dry and I will use whichever mask is appropriate. I can do a face mask collection soon to show you the ones I own plus their purposes/benefits.

In terms of makeup I have only been using mineral/powder foundation. I actually used one up entirely - Nude by Nature - and have repurchased. It is a very quick application that covers but lets my skin breathe. I have a review here on the powder foundations I own and use so you can find out my thoughts by reading that!

That is all I have to share for this Skin Diaries. I am seeing my naturopath again at the end of July, she wanted me to have two periods before seeing her again to just take all the supplements and implement everything I was instructed. We will then review my progress and see where to go from there. Hopefully in my next update we will be able to see some sort of improvement with my skin especially now that I have included photos. If you are going to leave a comment please be mindful of what you say about my skin because it is a big insecurity of mine and took a lot for me to actually  post this with the photos. I hope that by attaching the photos I can better help others and if there is improvement it will make me happier to actually be able to track and see it.

Thank you for reading and have a lovely week ahead.