From MIC to TLC: Beauty blogger Binky Felstead indulges in some winter pampering

Read article : From MIC to TLC: Beauty blogger Binky Felstead indulges in some winter pampering

By Binky Felstead

Published: 16:56 BST, 20 November 2012 | Updated: 17:34 BST, 20 November 2012

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Wow - it's cold outside. Not freeze-your-false-lashes-off cold, perhaps, but still seriously chilly. And it's no fun, especially when you're standing around for hours filming on location.

I'm starting to worry that I may spend the whole of this season of MIC with dry skin and a drip on the end of my nose - definitely not a good look.

So earlier this week, as soon as filming wrapped for the day, I decided to trade MIC for TLC and treat myself to a real beauty treat. One of my favouritepastimes is locking the door on the rest of the world, taking the phone of the hook, and really pampering myself.

Binky Felstead talks you through the perfect pampering winter bath" class="blkBorder" />

Binky Felstead talks you through the perfect pampering winter bath

I'm lucky enough to have a really luxurious feminine bathroom in my house. It's so lovely that my housemates and I, two of my best female friends, are always fighting for bathroom time. I'm starting to think about drawing up a bathroom rota just so I don't get one of the girls knocking on the doors as I dip my toe in the scented water.

Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One is a feminine fragrance that is perfect for layering

Luckily, I found out that the others would both be out on Tuesday evening, so the minute I arrived home from work, I knew I had hours of indulgent Binky-time ahead of me.

I started by dimming the lights and filling the bathroom with gorgeous scented candles. There are tons of delicious ones to choose from, and I'm a real fan. In spring I go for light, girlish floral candles; in summer I burn zesty citrus flavours, but in winter I like to fill my home with really lush green scents and woody spiced fragrances.

I recently treated myself to three incredible Acqua Di Parma candles - Precious Wood, Spicy and Cloves all available atEscentual.com- all perfect for creating a warm, cosy deliciously scented room. So I lit them all and dotted them round the room.

Next I filled my bath right to the brim with steaming water and bath oil. I have to admit that my shelves are heaving with lovely bath time lotions and potions. I'm a complete beauty addict - in case you hadn't guessed - and I can't resist splashing out of scrumptious scents and smellies. But there are two bathing classics that I return to time after time.

Firstly I never tire of the heavenly lemon scented L'Occitane Verbena Festival Foaming Bath - it smells so divine that it always makes me feel wonderfully refreshed. I've enjoyed L'Occitane's Verbena products for ages and the bubble bath has to be my favourite.

A long bubble bath is the perfect way to relax and pamper yourself on these cold winter nights

My other bath essential is Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate. If I've had a really long tiring day, I always pour three or four capfuls of this aromatic oil into the water - it contains Rosewood, Geranium, Mint, Rosemary essential oils to cleanse and firm the skin, and it really does revive my spirit.

Jennifer Lopez debut fragrance, Glow by J.Lo: Could we soon be seeing a signature scent by Binky?" class="blkBorder" />

Jennifer Lopez debut fragrance, Glow by J.Lo: Could we soon be seeing a signature scent by Binky?

I'd had just the sort of day that called for a real pick-me-up soak, so out came the Clarins. Once I'd warmed up and relaxed in my steamy, scented bath for an hour,  it was time for a little bit of body work. The mixture of cold weather and hot central heating can leave my skin feeling really dull and dry so I use a body scrub religiously during the winter months. Right now I'm loving Acqua Di Parma Italian Resort Pumice Body Scrub, which contains three different exfoliating granules: volcanic pumice, marine salts and citrus peel. It leaves my skin wonderfully smooth and silky.

I snoozed on for another hour, rousing myself every so often to top up the hot water, but finally it was time to climb out of the bath. However, my pampering session wasn't over yet. I still had to moisturise and scent my body. Like most girls,  I am a bit of a fragrance flirt and find I fall in love with a new scent every three or four months. I love everything from unusual niche fragrances by elegant perfumiers like Annick Goutal or Serge Lutens, to the blockbuster celebrity scents from the likes of J Lo and Lady Gaga - you never know, one day I might even bring out my very own Binky perfume, after all, I've put in years of research!

Candles create an air of relaxation in a bathroom- but picking the right scent is important

For head-to-toe beauty sessions like this one, however, I like to layer up a single scent, as different fragranced products can lead to a perfume clash. Most of the big-name brands produce full body ranges for their fragrances - everything from deodorant sprays, hand creams and body lotions to shampoos and conditioners. And of course there's the actual scent itself.

This time I chose Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One, which has a Perfumed Shower Gel, a Perfumed Body Lotion and a Perfumed Shimmer Powder, all featuring the deliciously feminine fragrance that mixes fruity top notes, with a central bouquet of peony, lily, lychee and Bulgarian rose. A final spritz of Rose The One Eau de Parfum, and I was done. 

At the end of my luxurious evening I felt deliciously relaxed, my skin was baby-soft and smooth, and I smelled good enough to eat. Pity the only one at home to see and smell the results of pampering was my beloved pooch Scrumble.

Read more of Binky's blog for the Mailhere

Binky Felstead's Beauty Blog - The Art of Pampering

Read article : Binky Felstead's Beauty Blog - The Art of Pampering

Wow – it’s cold outside. Not freeze-your-false-lashes-off cold, perhaps, but still seriously chilly. And it’s no fun, especially when you’re standing around for hours filming on location. I’m starting to worry that I may spend the whole of this season of MiC with dry skin and a drip on the end of my nose – definitely not a good look.

So earlier this week, as soon as filming wrapped for the day, I decided to trade MiC for TLC and treat myself to a real beauty treat. One of my favourite pastimes is locking the door on the rest of the world, taking the phone of the hook, and really pampering myself.

I’m lucky enough to have a really luxurious feminine bathroom in my house – it’s so lovely that me and my housemates – two of my best female friends – are always fighting for bathroom time. I’m starting to think about drawing up a bathroom rota, just so I don’t get one of the girls knocking on the doors so as I dip my toe in the scented water.

Luckily, I found out that the others would both be out on Tuesday evening, so the minute I arrived home from work, I knew I had hours of indulgent Binky-time ahead of me.

I started by dimming the lights and filling the bathroom with gorgeous scented candles. There are tons of delicious ones to choose from, and I’m a real fan. In spring I go for light, girlish floral candles; in summer I burn zesty citrus flavours, but in winter I like to fill my home with really lush green scents and woody spiced fragrances. I recently treated myself to three incredible Acqua Di Parma candles – Precious Wood, Spicy and Cloves – all perfect for creating a warm, cosy deliciously scented room. So I lit them all and dotted them around the room.

Next I filled my bath right to the brim with steaming water and bath oil. I have to admit that my shelves are heaving with lovely bathtime lotions and potions. I’m a complete beauty addict – in case you hadn’t guessed – and I can’t resist splashing out of scrumptious scents and smellies.  But there are two bathing classics that I return to time after time:

Firstly I never tire of the heavenly lemon scented L’Occitane Verbena Festival Foaming Bath – it smells so divine that it always makes me feel wonderfully refreshed. I’ve enjoyed L’Occitane’s Verbena products for ages and the bubble bath has to be my favourite.

My other bath essential is  Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate. If I’ve had a really long tiring day, I always pour three or four capfuls of this aromatic oil into the water – it contains Rosewood, Geranium, Mint, Rosemary essential oils to cleanse and firm the skin, and it really does revive my spirit.

I’d had just the sort of day that called for a real pick-me-up soak, so out came the Clarins. Once I’d warmed up and relaxed in my steamy, scented bath for an hour,  it was time for a little bit of body work. The mixture of cold weather and hot central heating can leave my skin feeling really dull and dry so I use a body scrub religiously during the winter months. Right now I’m loving Acqua Di Parma Italian Resort Pumice Body Scrub, which contains three different exfoliating granules: volcanic pumice, marine salts and citrus peel. It leaves my skin wonderfully smooth and silky.

I snoozed on for another hour, rousing myself every so often to top up the hot water, but finally it was time to climb out of the bath. However, my pampering session wasn’t over yet. I still had to moisturise and scent my body. Like most girls, I am a bit of a fragrance flirt and find I fall in love with a new scent every three or four months. I love everything from unusual niche fragrances by elegant perfumiers like Annick Goutal or Serge Lutens, to the blockbuster celebrity scents from the likes of J Lo and Lady Gaga – you never know, one day I might even bring out my very own Binky perfume, after all, I’ve put in years of research!

For head-to-toe beauty sessions like this one, however, I like to layer up a single scent, as different fragranced products can lead to a perfume clash. Most of the big-name brands produce full body ranges for their fragrances – everything from deodorant sprays, hand creams and body lotions to shampoos and conditioners. And of course there’s the actual scent itself.

This time I chose Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One, which has a Perfumed Shower Gel, a Perfumed Body Lotion and a Perfumed Shimmer Powder, all featuring the deliciously feminine fragrance that mixes fruity top notes, with a central bouquet of peony, lily, lychee and Bulgarian rose. A final spritz of Rose The One Eau de Parfum, and I was done.

At the end of my luxurious evening I felt deliciously relaxed, my skin was baby-soft and smooth, and I smelled good enough to eat. Pity the only one at home to see and smell the results of pampering was my beloved pooch Scrumble!

Soak Yourself in a Deep Bathtub and Experience Pure Relaxing Bliss

Read article : Soak Yourself in a Deep Bathtub and Experience Pure Relaxing Bliss

Who wouldn't like to loosen up in a cozy bathtub and beat all the weariness that pulls one down at the end of the day, or simply to rejuvenate oneself over the weekend, or just to have a fresh start to a tiring day? How about having a deep bathtub to bathe in? Wouldn't that be exciting and refreshing?

Deep tubs are popular because they allow the whole body to soak and relax, while their older counterparts did not offer this benefit. This is one of the most important features of deep bathtubs. Along with providing the much-desired comfort, these bathtubs are user-friendly with many comforting features and come in numerous varieties.

Features of Deep Bathtubs

As the name suggests, deep bathtubs are deeper than the normal ones and are meant for the sheer purpose of soaking the whole body. They are said to have been derived from garden bathtubs that used to be placed in the gardens of the rich and the famous, somewhere during 18th century.

The most prominent feature of a deep bathtub is that they do not relax only the lower parts and limbs of the body, but enable complete relaxation of the whole body, even when a person is in a sitting position, reading or simply sipping on a glass of wine! This feature makes them unique and appealing to absolutely anyone and everyone. There are some wider designs that accommodate two people at a time for a couple to have a romantic bath.

Deep bathtubs also have a hot tub feature that provides greater relaxation to the body. So bathing in these can prove to be a good option for people suffering from joint pain or muscle pain. These bathtubs are also available with the provision of chromatherapy, which allows relaxation with the help of different colors, which is a huge fascination among buyers today.

Types of Deep Bathtubs

There is a wide variety when it comes to the designs and styles. Deep bathtubs can be classified as long and extra deep. Long bathtubs require the person to lie down in the tub, while extra deep bathtubs can allow a person to bathe in the sitting position. They also come in two other varieties, namely hot deep bathtubs and deep bathtub shower combos. Hot deep bathtubs are equipped with electric or gas heating systems, and can thus provide hot water. Deep bathtub shower combos are bathing tubs with shower attachments.

If you visit any home improvement store, you will realize that you have ample choice when it comes to deep bathtubs. Some of the varieties are, garden deep bathtubs (as explained earlier), Roman tubs (wherein one needs to step down to bathe), Japanese tubs (they are so deep that one can soak in water up to the neck while in the sitting position), and Greek tubs (excellent choice for decorating a small bathroom as they are smaller). One of the other popular and fashionable variety is the clawfoot bathtub. This is a deep bathtub with a rolling rim mounted on claw feet, which give a very elegant look to your bathroom.

So in case you are thinking about bathroom remodeling, why not bring home a nice and cozy deep bathtub to treat yourself royally while bathing? There are many types that are economical and easy to install and repair. So what are you waiting for? Bring home your favorite tub and redefine your entire bathing experience!

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