Just a simple lesson today, for those who may have trouble sleeping, find they do not get quality rest or simply wish to make their bedtime a little more princess like.

Sleep is one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself, as much as healthy food and excercise it will contribute to your general health and beauty (the phrase ‘beauty sleep’ is no lie!) Ideally we should get at least eight hours sleep a night, with going to bed early and rising early being preferencial. I try to be in bed by 10:30 most nights, and rise between 6-7am, often as the sun does. I’ve always been a morning person and am most alert from the moment I get up to around midday. However, even if you’re used to sleeping in and staying up late, you can retrain your body and may find you have a lot more energy when you do!

Read a book before bed. This is my favourite way to wind down and relax my mind, escaping from daily stress and perparing for beautiful dreams. I especially love reading fairy tales and fantasy at this time. If you can find someone to read to you, then you are extra lucky!

Wash your pillowcase regularly and scent it with rose or lavender water, the latter will help you sleep even more. Try making your bed each morning, getting in to a freshly made bed at night is much more comforting than crawling under a heaped pile of covers.

If light bothers you, aquire a sleeping mask. There are many beautiful ones out there, embroidered or quilted or even bejewled! It adds a little bit of luxury and is useful when travelling too.

Wear beautiful nightwear, I love nightgowns best, with lace and chiffon or cute ruffles! There are lots of adorable pajamas out there too. You may like to look at BABY’s nightwear section for ideas.

There’s nothing worse than getting in to a cold bed in winter! Historically ladies have had their beds pre-heated by warming pans, however a much easier option for us is a hot water bottle. Pop it in to bed at least ten minutes beforehand and it will be nice and cosy when you get there. I also love wheat packs, the sort you heat in the microwave, scented with lavender and rose petals they are very soothing.

Make yourself a ‘posset’ before bed. A Posset is a hot milk drink consumed before bed, traditonally it had alcohol added to curdle the milk but I make mine without using the recipe below. If you don’t drink milk, there are lot of great herbal teas that contain herbs which will help you sleep. A favourite of mine is Celestial Seasonings ‘Sleepytime’ which tastes of mint and chamomile, yum!

Looking again at the virtues we associate with being a Princess, I must address one that is often left out. Its not so much on the fun side, but it is integral to our dignity, self respect and sense of nobility. A Princess always has duty to fulfill, it is these obligations that set her place in the world and also give her meaning. We each have different duties that life has bestowed on us, whether it is caring for an elderly relative, protecting and helping those weaker than us or simply staying true to our own beliefs and morals.

When we fail to fulfill our duties, we take a blow to our own pride and find it harder to value ourselves. Sometimes following duty means sacrificing some of our own free time and pleasure, sometimes it means doing what is right even if thats not what we want right now and very often it requires us to take the uphill path rather than the easy way out. However, having a sense of duty and fulfilling it is a very rewarding way to spend your life, just make sure you have a clear idea of where that duty lies.

Our first duty, which comes before all others, is to ourselves. This doesn’t mean being selfish and doing what you want all the time, it means having a deep understanding and respect for who you are as a person and strong idea of what is right for you. It means staying true to yourself in all situations, listening to your conscience and your heart and making choices that meet the demands of both.

A duty all Princesses share is to treat others, whether they are friends, family or strangers with equal respect and kindness. Noone is beneath your notice and everyone you meet deserves a kind word and a smile. Make it your personal duty to bring a little happiness and hope to every life you touch.

One of the toughest duties we have is self control. We all get angry, sad and stressed, but being able to control these feelings and express them in a positive focused way is so important. No matter how bad a day you are having, you owe it to yourself and others to control those feelings. That means being as patient, as considerate and polite as you would any other day. You have a right to feel your emotions, but a duty to contain them when its not appropriate to give in.

A Princess keeps her word. If she says she is going to do something, she does it, even if she doesn’t really feel like it. If you offer to help someone, do the best job you can. If you promise to do something, fulfill that promise without complaint. This also goes for your own goals and ambitions, if you set out to do something, a job or course or project, put 100% of yourself in it. Once you’ve started something, see it through to the end.

Look for opportunities to be of service to others, don’t just lend a hand when it is asked for. If you see a chance to help someone, then offer. The most beautiful acts of kindness are those done spontaneously, silently, and without asking for thanks or acknowledgement.

I believe that Duty is not something we are very aware of in our current, western society. Perhaps because we focus so much now on doing what is wanted and not what is needed. I think those things we do out of duty, though, are the ones that build our character and give us a sense of purpose that many of us feel missing in our lives.

Think of it this way, if you are a Princess then the whole world is your kingdom. You have a duty to every living thing in it, to offer kindness and beauty and love, protection and guidance and aid. What the world owes you is not important, think instead about what you have to offer the world and do it, with all your heart.

I think its sad that these days we mostly think of poetry as something you read, rather than listen too. I find I enjoy it so much more as an art when it is recited aloud, indeed whenever I read books such as Anne of Green Gables in which poetry recitations are featured I always wish that I could attend. Of course there are still some groups that do this, but it is not as popular as it once was.

As one of my 101 tasks that I have set for myself, I chose to memorise a poem. I’ve not done this for a long time, since it was an assignment in school, and I’m amazed at how it wakes my mind up actually. I thought it would be far more difficult than it is, but really I find it quite stimulating and it helps me to focus and train my memory, something that I’ve let run rather wild since I no longer have to learn lines for plays.

In case you are interested in trying this, I thought I’d share a few tips.

Choose a poem you really love. Something that has meaning for you and flows beautifully in your mind. Don’t choose a poem with too many verses, unless you’re fairly confident of your ability to memorise them all. You may already have your own favourite poets, I’m particularly fond of Tennyson, Keats and Wordsworth.

Print out a copy of the Poem, or better yet, write it by hand! Put it somewhere you can easily access it or look at it when you have a moment.

There are many different techniques that people use for memorisation. One that is quite popular is to read the first line in your head, then turn over the paper and say it aloud. Go back and read the second line and then say both of them aloud. Follow through for the rest of the poem saying one extra line each time. Personally, I find this good for shorter pieces but a bit tedious for long ones. I prefer to learn each verse at a time and then string them together in this way.

Recite the poem, or what you have learned of it so far, in your head all the time. Recite it when you’re on the bus, doing your laundry, walking the dog, brushing your hair. Reciting it while you are doing other activities is good because it trains your mind to go over it automatically, without thinking too much. You may even find it gets stuck in your head like a song, and you go over it without even trying!

If you would like to recite the poem to an audience, or even for yourself, the next step after learning the words and rhythm is to understand the meaning. Think about each line, each verse and what emotions it evokes in you. If you were feeling that emotion for the first time, how would you express it? Poetry that is just read without feeling is not half as beautiful as a performance where the reader puts all of their heart in to it. Imagine yourself as a storyteller or narrator. Think about your body language and expressions and make eye contact with your audience.

You’ll probably find poems stay in your memory longer than you would expect. I can still recite verses of poems and snippets of shakespeare I learnt years ago, though to be able to recite the whole pieces in order I’d have to read through them again more recently.

I think poetry is one of the most beautiful or the written arts, and oral interpretations really add so much to our understanding of the words that are otherwise just paper and ink. If you’re interested, the poem that I’m learning right now is an excerpt from Tennyson’s ‘Maud: a Monodrama’ you can read it here.

For the final part of this series, I’m going to talk a little bit about the products and brands I use personally or have tried in the past. I apologise if some of these aren’t available outside Australia, but I’ve included some I know are international as well. You might notice if you go in to a store and pick these up, that I do not spend a fortune on skin care. Any company that needs a shiny white desk and overly-made up women in little white coats to sell their products, frankly, scares me. I know that if I chose I could look after my skin for next to nothing using ingredients like milk, egg whites and oats, so when I choose, for convenience sake, to buy pre made products I’m certainly not going to pay extra for fancy packaging and labels (If you like pretty containers I suggest buying some empty ones, such as Egyptian perfume bottles, and filling them yourself.)

NATIO

I started using Natio products about six months ago, on recommendation from the Queen who has very sensitive skin and finds their creams and lotions do not irritate her at all. I don’t have sensitive skin personally, I have combination skin, but I don’t like the idea of putting strong chemicals on my face regardless so I was eager to try them out! Currently I am using their Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser, Rosewater and Chamomile Toner and Natural Vitamin E moisturising cream. I am always excited when I turn over a bottle to read the ingredients and I see a great big list of botanical names. Apart from being a bit of a herb nerd, its nice to know that the majority of the active ingredients haven’t been removed from their natural sources. I’m really happy with the products I use, but I have looked at a few of their body washes and things that use the more harmful chemicals so be sure to check when purchasing.

Le Couvent Des Minimes

I really love anything honey scented, and have been a long time fan of the Miel range by L’Occitane. However recently I discovered this range by Le Couvent Des Minimes, that is also made in France and contains very similar ingredients (and smells equally good) at a far more reasonable price. I am using their Pure Vegetable Soap with Honey & Shea and Moisturising Body Lotion from the same range. Both leave my skin feeling soft and lightly scented, they’re absolutely a pleasure to use and I love smelling like nectar!

Tinderbox

Tinderbox is a small west Australian company based in the town of Balingup, which is one of my favourite places to visit. Their products are about as natural as you can get, using nothing but pure herb extracts and ingredients like beeswax and clay. They also smell divine because of all the essential oils they blend in. I used to use their facial care products, but found them to be a little to gentle for my skin which can be oily sometimes and requires a stronger cleanser. None the less I fully recommend them and still use their Eye cream and some other products. I don’t believe they sell outside of Australia though.

Neways

I really admire how this company is very dedicated to making sure their products are as safe as possible. I use their Shampoo and Conditioner, which not only is free from harsh chemicals used in almost every on the shelf shampoo, but also leaves my hair far healthier and doesn’t dry it out. It is a little more expensive than your average shampoo, but I think its worth it for both health and beauty reasons. Neways is not sold in stores but you can get in contact with your local consultant through their web site.

I’m not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned here, but I thought you might like to see what I use on a regular basis as a bit of inspiration when choosing your own skin care routine. I also suggest that you always read the ingredients, even when you trust the brand. This page and this site will give you an idea of what to avoid in the products you buy.

I hope you haven’t forgotton, our first International Princess Day (May 5th) is just under three weeks away! Do you know what you’re going to do yet? Are you going to take the day off, or maybe participate on Sunday instead? Are you going to use it as an excuse to have some indulgent ‘me time’ or celebrate with your friends? Here are a few suggestions that might inspire you.

Start your day off in the most beautiful way possible (without sleeping it away!) leave your curtains open so that you might be awakened by the first rays of morning light as they fall upon your face. Have breakfast in bed, some fresh fruit perhaps and your favourite tea. Listen to the sounds of the birds outside, read a few pages of a favourite book, or a poem like this one.

Choose your outfits for the day. They don’t have to be your most formal, or impressive, but something simple and sweet and fun. Allow yourself to wear some jewelry, a little perfume and, if suitable, maybe a crown or tiara, to remind yourself that today you are royalty.

Put on some music if you are spending part of the day at home, perhaps some Medieval dance music, lilting classical or baroque or just make a play list of all you favourite ‘pick me up’ songs, nothing angsty or sad. Feel free to sing along and dance as much as you like.

If you choose to go out, pick a destination a little different to where you would normally go. You might like to visit an interesting store that’s recently opened, see a new movie, have a manicure, go window shopping, have high tea at a cafe or tearoom, go antiquing, visit a museum, art gallery or library. Allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy each experience and don’t fret over anything, this is your chance to indulge a little.

For more nature loving Princesses, if the weather is nice you may like to take a walk somewhere. In the park or forest or perhaps beside the sea. Notice what flowers are blooming and keep an eye out for furry and feathered friends. If you feel the whim, just stretch out on the grass and watch the clouds go by.

End the day on a high note. Go out for dinner to a fancy restaurant or cook your favourite meal, followed by some wickedly rich dessert. You might like to have a warm scented bath before bed, or spend an hour brushing your hair. Flip through some magazines, read a fairytale and take the time to write all about your day in you diary.

Personally, I’m going to invite some friends over the night before for a little party and then take the whole day off, though my plans for that are secret! These are just suggestions, and its important to spend your Princess Day doing things you love and find enjoyable and uplifting. I look forward to hearing all about your adventures!

Unfortunately, even Princesses get sick, and I’ve been unlucky enough to get hit by two bugs so far this season. The first one only lasted three days however, and I’m hoping to fight this one off pretty quickly as well! I think when we come down with a seasonal illness, there’s two important things - to boost your immune system and support your body in fighting it, and to maintain some dignity and peace of mind by being comfortable while in convalescence.

I’m a firm believer in natural remedies for fighting off colds and flu, the reason being that these illnesses are rarely serious unless you’ve got a particularly weak disposition, so its actually good to keep your immune system in fighting shape by dealing with these so you’ll be better protected when it comes to more serious viruses.

I take Vitamin C, with zinc which helps your body absorb it. Powdered form is best, but sometimes its easier to take more in tablets. Its actually pretty hard to take too much vitamin C, what your body doesn’t need it will just pass on. I also take Echinacea, the important thing with Echinacea is to get it in liquid form distilled from the root, a lot of the echinacea available is made using the flower and leaves which aren’t as strong. The brand I buy is called ‘Herbs of Gold’ its quite expensive but worth its weight in gold! I take it at the first sign of a cold, 5 mls morning and night. If I don’t take echinacea, my colds tend to last twice as long. The other fantastic cold remedy is raw garlic. I know, its nasty stuff and noone will want to come near you for days, but if you can stomach a clove or two of raw garlic a day (I crush mine and put it in soup after the soup is cooked) it will help you recover much faster!

Get as much rest as you can. Your body needs time to heal itself and the less energy you use up elsewhere the more it can devote to fighting that bug! Go to bed early, sleep in and spend the day relaxing with a good book or movie. Whenever you feel the need for a nap, take one.

Make sure you keep up your fluid intake, whether its tea or juice or watery soup. Keep yourself hydrated and eat lots of nourishing and comforting foods. My favourite things to eat when I’m sick are Udon soup, Creamed Rice and Bananas on toast. Chicken noodle soup is very popular too. If you can manage vegetables and fruit, eat a much as you can and avoid dairy foods as the lactose can increase mucous production.

Make yourself comfortable, being sick is a great excuse to be a little self indulgent and sentimental. Make yourself a comfy little nest with pillows, blankets and your favourite teddy bear. Watch your favourite movies (I don’t know about you but noontime television usually makes me feel worse) and read fairy tales and picture books. Take warm baths with salts and spend the whole day in your pajamas or nightgown. Make sure you have some pretty hankerchiefs on hand and a fluffy hot water bottle to curl up with.

When a friend is ill, take some time to go and visit them! People do this so rarely these days which I think is rather sad. Nothing cheers one up like a considerate friend. If you are concerned about catching the bug yourself, visit them after the second or third day when they are less contagious and obviously try and avoid getting too close. Bring them a handmade card, a basket of fruit or some flowers, tell them they look beautiful because they’re probably not feeling it right now, and share some amusing stories from your own life to encourage them to get better. You’ll probably both be smiling when you leave.

Stay positive! Your mind has an powerful connection to your body, so thinking positive and joyful thoughts will help you recover. If all you do is feel sorry for yourself and let being sick make you miserable as well, you’re not giving yourself much encouragement to get better. Just think of it as a bit of down time, relax and dream about all the things your’re going to do when you get better!

I hope these tips are of some help to Princesses heading in to the flu season as we are here, or if you’re unlucky enough to get a summer cold they may help as well! Thank you to everyone who has sent me lovely ‘get well soon’ messages!

As Princesses, I’m sure we all have dreams and wishes that we’d like to see realised in the future. Whether its having a beautiful palace and gardens, travelling all over the world, learning a new skill or something as simple as aquiring a beautiful dress. I firmly believe that there is nothing we can not achieve if we truly set our hearts on it, however that doesn’t mean we should expect a fairy godmother to come along and grant all these wishes with the wave of her wand. More often we have to use our wits, talents and imagination to bring our dream world in to reality. This method takes more work, but its also far more rewarding!

Sometimes big dreams can seem so far away and too hard to achieve because we’re simply not sure how to get there. We often put off working towards these goals because there is so much effort needed and its hard to see where to begin. This is where knowing how to set realistic and achievable goals is useful. Almost any long term target can be broken down in to a series of smaller steps that can be tackled, piece by piece, to bring about the end result.

To begin with, try Visualising your goals. Create a clear mental image of what you want to achieve. If your goal is to visit England, picture yourself walking through the streets of London. If your goal is to master a musical intrument, picture yourself on stage playing for a large audience of happy people. Having an strong image of your dream will keep you going, whenever you lose focus just bring that image to mind. You could also create a scrapbook or collage as a physical reminder!

The next important step is to write them down. Even if you have an excellent memory, writing down your goals or typing them up will bring them out of your head and in to the physical world. It will also help you plan out your smaller steps and to be more decisive about what you intend to achieve. Its important to be very clear, avoid ambiguity in your wording and to make your goals measurable. Don’t say ‘I’d like to write a book one day’ say ‘I’d like to have a published novel in this genre before I am 25.’ Setting a time constraint is also important because it makes your goal more definite and gives you a sense of urgency.

Break down the big ones. All goals have smaller steps that lead up to achieving them. Now that you have a written list of your goals, you can look at them one at a time and start thinking about the little steps you need to take to achieve them. For example, if you want to learn a new language you will need to look for a course to enroll in or tutor to hire, then actually attend the lessons and revise what you’ve learnt on a regular basis. Larger goals such as travelling overseas, owning a house or starting a career or business will take a great deal more steps, but the important thing is to start somewhere. Think of each of your steps as mini-goals, which ones can you start on today? I bet there will be something you can do right away.

Discipline yourself. This can be the hardest step, but all your work of visualising goals and creating plans goes to waste if you put them in a drawer and forget about them. You need to stay focused and review your goals and plans regularly. Perhaps you could write them on a sheet of paper and read them every morning after you get up, or make a desktop wallpaper out of them. Start writing yourself to-do lists and make sure you do something, however small, towards your goals each day. Don’t forget to reward yourself whenever you complete one of your mini-goals!

Ask for help! We all need help sometimes, and although others can’t achieve our goals for us they can give us advice, suggestions and support that makes all the difference. Talk to friends and family and meet people who have experience in the area you’ve set your goal. If something seems impossible, it may just mean you need a fresh perspective and a little bit of assistance, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.

Accept your failures and learn from them. All of us make mistakes, sometimes our initial plans turn out to have holes in them and we have to find a new way to achieve our goals. Don’t see failure as an excuse to give up, see it as a lesson to learn from and a spur to push you onwards. The old saying that when you fall off a horse you need to get right back on again is true for a great many things in life.

Be true to yourself. Never sacrifice your personal integrity or beliefs to take a faster or easier path to success. Nothing is as important as staying true to your heart, and no great success will be fulfilling at the sacrifice of your morals. There’s always more than one way to achieve something, find the way that works for you and makes you feel good about yourself aswell!

I’ve recently decided to take part in the 101 Things in 1001 days challenge, its very exciting to me because I have a lot of little goals I want to keep track of, as well as some bigger ones. You may like to take this challenge yourself!

Starting from the 1st of April there will also be a new section of Princess Portal, for a monthly ‘Princess Challenge.’ I’m going to set myself a new task each month and I hope you will join me in working on the same task, or one of your own! I think its going to be a lot of fun and I will post more details on April 1st.

Inspired by Enchanted I decided to put together a little list for ‘How to be a Disney Princess.’ This is mostly in jest, for a bit of fun, but for girls who grew up with the Disney Heroines as a major inspiration for the Inner Princesses, this may bring back a touch of nostalgia!

Sing sweet nightingale, sing! Disney Princesses will take any excuse to burst in to song, all of which seem to be strangely appropriate to the situation at hand. Sing as you do your chores, stroll through the garden or sit by your window daydreaming. If you’re like me and very shy about your voice, just sing when there’s noone there to listen. Make up little songs and melodies like you did when you were a child, if you don’t want to sing, hum or whistle!

Dance whenever you feel the urge, express your happiness by flitting about as if your every movement is a ballet move. Disney Princesses have pretty little mannerisms, giggle behind your hands, clasp them to your heart, spin around and let your skirts swirl out. Rest your chin on one hand as you gaze at the clouds. Dance on the beach, in the park, in your room when nobody’s watching. You don’t need music, just listen to the melody in your heart.

Make friends with animals. Talk to the birds in your garden, your pets or stray cats and local wildlife. If you’re a bug loving Princess don’t forget to say hello to the snails and the butterflies too! Just because they don’t talk back doesn’t mean they can’t hear you. Plants and trees can make good friends too, I have a Sweet Basil plant who lives in our kitchen and they say plants grow better if you talk to them!

Clean the house. Scrubbing floors and sweeping seems to be a bit of a theme in Disney movies, so make sure your home is always spotless! Tie your hair up in a scarf and don’t forget to sing! You could also offer to clean house for a friend or relative. I don’t suggest trying to get your animal friends to help though, they’re likely to do more harm than good!

Go out to the markets ‘In disguise.’ You won’t be able to mingle with the masses unless you hide your true identity so leave the ball gown at home and wear a simple dress. Chat to the local shopkeepers and buy some fruit. Take some time to experience the world outside the palace doors.

Daydream about your Prince. Does he have clear blue eyes? Is he tall and handsome? Practise your waltz for the day he asks you to dance. Maybe you should spare a thought for his real features to, is he brave and courteous? Kind and compassionate? How will you know when you find him?

Be resourceful. You may not be living in a beautiful palace (yet) but you can use your imagination and create beauty all around you. Learn to make your own dresses, decorate your room with wildflowers, make a daisy chain for a crown and remember its the thought that counts, not the price!

Buy or sew yourself some ‘Princess Gowns,’ typically you should have one plain dress and one fancy one. Disney Princess dresses are almost always ankle length with nicely fitted bodices and flared skirts. Plain dresses in brown, cream, black or blue will serve for cleaning, shopping and walking through the forest (don’t forget an apron!) Your fancy dress should be in your favourite colour, elegant and decadent enough to wear to royal occaisions!

Kindness counts. Disney Princesses are always kind, considerate and charitable. They never hate and rarely express anger, but conduct themselves with grace and gentleness. Read books to a group of children, help elderly women with their shopping and always volunteer to be of service when you see someone in need. Be generous to strangers and considerate to your friends. Always say please and thank you!

Make wishes! Thats how dreams come true after all, you have to wish very hard and believe with all your heart. Wish on wishing wells and shooting stars, blow dandelion heads and candles and catch falling leaves before they hit the ground. Make your wish very clear, and cross your fingers that it will be granted!

There must be a Ball! All good fairy tales have a ball, so keep an eye out for events in your city and plan to get tickets. Take your Prince Charming or go alone in the hope of meeting one. Wear your prettiest dress, your glass slippers and flowers in your hair or a sparkling tiara. Then dance, dance the night away, but make sure to leave before the clock strikes twelve!

This morning I had french lessons as usual so I headed in to the City to meet my tutor at our favourite cafe. Afterwards I decided to do a little shopping. Girls often tell me that they don’t enjoy shopping that much, even though they feel they should, and I must admit somedays it seems like more of a chore than a pleasure for me aswell. There are a few secrets I find help make shopping a more enjoyable experience;

Dress up! Shopping is much more fun if you feel fresh and pretty to begin with, and you’ll be so much more at ease walking in to nice boutiques. Looking your best makes you feel more confident aswell. Do wear clothes that are easy to change out of if you’re clothes shopping though and don’t forget comfortable shoes!

I personally can’t stand shopping centers or ‘malls’ as they are called in some countries. I prefer shopping on streets where I do most of my walking outside, especially when the weather’s nice. Being stuck in a giant complex with strong airconditioning and no windows for hours on end is just so draining. Open air markets are fantastic aswell!

Leave the shopping list at home, or bring it, but pay minimal attention. Shopping for fun means allowing your attention to wander and exploring new store and areas you’ve never been to. It can be nice to buy some things you need, but it doesn’t hurt to also pick up a few things you fall in love with at first sight.

Make sure you keep hydrated, shopping is hard work! Also stopping for a snack or lunch can make the outing more relaxing. Don’t rush around everywhere, give yourself time to stop and listen to a busker or check out the nearby art gallery or museum. Break your day up with some other activities and it will seem less tedious.

Here is my little haul from today, ViVi and Popteen magazines, Sugarbunnies pen, Crochet strawberry phone charm, some makeup and an adorable pink Scotty Dog bag!

In my last article on skin care I mentioned that every Princess has different skin and that not all remedies and products work for everyone. To decide on a routine that works best for you, it can be helpful to find out which skin type you have. There are four main skin types, and a commonly listed fifth is ‘normal’ skin, which is well balanced skin with no particular problems. There might be a lucky few with this skin type, but most of us will find we lean towards one of these.

Oily Skin
If you wake up in the morning and your skin has an oily film over it (easily removed with a tissue) you are prone to acne or blemishes and find your face can look a bit shiny throughout the day you probably have oily skin. Its important to cleanse regularly and you might also need to exfoliate to keep your pores clean and prevent blackheads and blemishes. The benefit of oily skin is that it is less prone to wrinkles and will look younger for longer.

Dry Skin
The opposite to Oily skin, Dry skin can appear a little dull and is dry to the touch. It can sometimes be sensitive and prone to itching or rashes. Its important to keep dry skin hydrated throughout the day and to protect it from the sun or strong winds. Using a nice nutrient rich moisturiser will help keep your skin firm and soft. The good thing about dry skin is you’re probably less prone to blemishes.

Combination Skin
This is a mixture of Oily and Dry skin. Usually it includes an oily ‘T zone’ which is your forehead, nose and chin and dryer cheeks. This can vary though. Combination skin has to be treated separately, make sure to cleanse and exfoliate your T zone and be sure to moisturize and protect your cheeks.

Sensitive Skin
This is usually dry skin that is extra sensitive to the environment and chemicals in products. If you find you get a reaction from makeup, shampoos and skin care products or that your skin flares up easily in reaction to weather conditions you may have sensitive skin. I strongly reccommend using all natural products and staying away from anything too acidic on your face. If you have sensitive skin its always good to test new products on the back of your hand first.

Once you have identified your skin type, you can begin to establish a routine for maintaining your complexion. This includes all of the products or remedies you use and also lifestyle factors, which can have a big impact on your skins health and appearance.

Food for the Skin
Your diet is a major factor in your skins appearance, the Skin is your largest organ and it is also used to excrete toxins. Avoid foods high in saturated fats, such as fried foods and some baked goods, this is especially important if you have oily skin as you don’t want to increase your natural oil levels. Unsaturated oils however are beneficial to your skin, these include fish oil and olive oil (when uncooked.) Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables provides you with the nutrients required to repair and maintain healthy skin. You may also like to read my article on healthy living.

Internal Cleansing
Drinking plenty of water is one of the best remedies there is! However the minimum of ‘8-10 glasses’ often toted is actually a myth. Most people do not need to drink this much water. The water needed to remain hydrated varies greatly from person to person and also depends on how much liquid you are losing through perspiration etc. A more accurate estimate is that a normal adult loses about 10 cups of water a day, and consumes at least 4 cups in food so they only need 6 cups of water to stay healthy and hydrated. Adding a little lemon juice to your water is a great way to help detoxify your body as well.

Sleep and Rest
I can not emphasize enough how important it is to get your beauty sleep! It is while you are sleeping that your body is at its best repairing your skin so if you wish to have a nice complexion and heal quickly its early to bed and early to rise. Most people benefit from at least 8 hours sleep, but I find if I get 10 hours sleep a night my skin is significantly better. Stress is also a factor in poor skin so make sure you have your relaxation time each day.

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise
These are the three steps most common in a skin care routine. With oily and combination skin you should probably do this twice a day, morning and night. For dry or sensitive skin you may be better only doing it once a day but moisturising more often. Find a balance that works for you. Cleansing removes dirt, makeup and oil from the skin and should be done with warm water and a gentle cleanser. Toning protects the skin and tightens pores, helping to keep it firm and youthful. Moisturising is the last step, it rehydrates the skin and a good moisturiser will also include nutrients and oils that help maintain the skins elasticity and balance.

I’ll be looking more at these three steps and sharing some of my favourite products in the next lesson, as well as offering some natural remedies for each.