Bargain beauty tips

If you’re happy investing in an expensive skin care regime, that’s fine, but simplicity works as well, says Sadie.

“I cannot stress how important it is to keep your skin scrupulously clean. I’m a big advocator of exfoliating with natural products as the fancy face creams won’t work if you don’t.”

Exfoliate

A good exfoliator, such as No 7’s Hand Saviour will set you back £11.50. I have one that I put on my hands and feet that costs less than 50p to make – and it’s completely natural.

Mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Rub vigorously around the hands and do the same to your feet. Wash off with soap, then before you go to bed, melt a teaspoon of Superdrug coconut oil and smear over your hands and feet. By the morning your hands and feet will be like silk. Do this once a week and your feet will be primed for those Jimmy Choos or Matalan’s finest! I use this exfoliator on my elbows too.

Body oil

Body oils are great as they have to be  massaged into the skin, which in turn relieves tension, stimulates the circulation and tones the flabby parts.

Neutrogena Body Oil with sesame seed oil (£3.99) is currently on offer for half-price. Body oils contain less parabens than body butters as these aren’t needed.

Sunburn

Soothe sunburn by rubbing cucumber over the skin as it will help take the heat out.

De-puff eyes

Slice raw potatoes very thinly, place over eyes . . . and relax.

Paw paw

Next time you eat a paw paw (papaya) fruit, rub the inside of the skin over your face afterwards. It’s packed with enzymes that shift dead cells.

Do the same with watermelon, which is  good for tightening wrinkled, dry skin. Just smear it over your face.

Veggie face mask

Mash 1 boiled carrot with 1 boiled turnip. Add some honey to the mix. Cool down, apply to the face for 20 minutes, then rinse off.

Carrots are rich in vitamin C and turnip has cleansing benefits.

Natural face lift

By reversing the flow of gravity, a headstand simulates a face lift by letting your skin hang in the opposite direction.

The inverted position of a headstand also flushes fresh nutrients and oxygen to the face, giving you glowing skin.

Ask a yoga teacher for advice on technique. Yoga asanas bring vitality to the body while calming the mind.

In praise of the rose

The rose starts blooming at sunrise, releasing its rich honey-sweet scent to the breeze amid the morning dew.

Over the centuries, countless poets and perfumers have been inspired by the beauty of the rose and its lingering aroma.

In aromatherapy, rose oil is used in massage blends to relieve tension and grief. At the end of a relaxing massage treatment, you are breathing calmly and regularly and the body and mind are in harmony, writes aromatherapist Caroline.

Healing balm

Rose is excellent for dry skin and general skin care, encouraging the regeneration of skin cells. It can be used with sweet almond oil to mend thread veins and soothe redness.

Around the world, the four main centres for the production of rose oil are: Kazanluk – The Valley of Roses – in Bulgaria; Isparta in Turkey; Shiraz in Iran and Grasse in the South of France. The oil is steam-distilled from fresh rose petals. It takes 30 roses to make one drop of oil, hence its high cost in perfumes and beauty products. But a little goes a long way: you don’t need to use much rose oil to make up your own therapeutic blends.

Here are some rose creams you can make at home.

Moisturiser

Make your own moisturiser by blending rose essential oil with an unscented cream base. Use 2-3 drops of rose oil to 1 teaspooon (5ml) of cream base in a small pot with a lid.

Body lotion

To make a body lotion, mix 8 drops of essential oil in a 100ml lotion or a 100g pot. The lotion can be used on the neck, hands and body to keep the skin lubricated and elastic, making it less prone to wrinkles.

Facial oil

Rose oil assists in the daily process of skin healing. To make a gentle facial oil, add one drop of rose oil to a teaspoon of base oil, such as jojoba, avacado or wheatgerm.

Remember to store these blends in sealed containers, away from sunlight and heat.

“Let opening roses knotted oaks adorn, and liquid amber drop from every thorn.” ~ Alexander Pope

Stockists

Rose absolute and base creams are available from online supplier Butterbur & Sage.

Base Cold Cream (100g) costs £2.24

Rose Absolute in Light Coconut Oil (10ml) costs £6.55