Selsey Beach

While the summer may feel a long way off as we head towards the autumnal season, I managed to convince my family that there is no better time than now to make a final trip to the coast one last time this year. 

Blessed with sunshine, clear bright skies and a brisk wind, we ended up spending a weekend in Selsey, a large village with a small seaside town a few miles south of Chichester, dominated by the sea and famous for its fishing with a stunning beach that stretches for miles.

We spent our day at the West Beach, which is probably one of the best tidal beaches within the county with an abundance of natural light due to its magnificent landscape and the echo of the sea.

At the end of the road, there is a distant view of the Isle of Wight.

The tide was low when we arrived so we were lucky to enjoy a huge expanse of soft golden sand. We felt alive as we splashed around, throwing pebbles that armour the beach into the sea, seeing who could throw the farthest.

Besides being a treat for the senses, we loved the mineral magic of the seawater in the atmosphere and the soft sand exfoliating our feet, bracing the fresh air laced with beauty as we ran around until the sun set.

The panoramas were breathtakingly glorious as the soft glowing light from the sky created a reflection of the sun’s rays during the evening twilight.

The UK may not be amongst the top for its coastal scenery but the coastline is certainly as picturesque as any other.

The calm sea was spectacular, so we lounged around watching the sunset and the tethered fronds of seaweed whirling around, casting silhouettes and gazing into the watery worlds of hermit whilst enjoying the relaxing sound of the sea.

Once the sun had gone down, we lay on the beach stargazing and watched the clear skies reveal an impressive bright moon until the tide came in.

Have you been to Selsey? What did you think of the beach? Sunrise and sunsets seem to be my thing so if you have any recommendations on where to capture some of the best views, please comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

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DIY Ubtan Face Mask – Does it really work??

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m currently addicted to The Great British Bake Off but last weekend, I had a sleepover with some of my favourite girls and decided to have a little last minute pamper session where we had an at-home spa and raided the kitchen cupboards and fridge for some clean, raw ingredients and made a night of DIY face masks.

Suffering from skin as dry as the Sahara Desert, facials for me are an essential part to maintaining a healthy complexion as often, my skin looks like a battlefield; sallow, tight, dull and dehydrated, sometimes painful and flaky. So, instead of using the traditional shop bought face masks, I decided to be a little more experimental in the kitchen and tried a traditional homemade recipe, known as the ubtan mask.

The tradition of ubtan originates from ancient India and has been used for thousands of years and is probably the best kept secret for glowing skin. The key ingredients that make the mask are the turmeric and chickpea flour, however, it can be prepared in various ways and with a variety of ingredients, allowing you control and attain whatever benefits suit you.

To prepare the mask, I used the following:

• Two tablespoons of raw, Manuka honey
• Egg whites of two regular sized eggs
• Raw root turmeric
• Ginger stem
• Juice of one lemon
• Couple of drops of cold pressed clove oil
• Chickpea flour (also known as Gram flour)

The Benefits of my chosen ingredients:

• Manuka honey – quite literally a miracle product, high in antibacterial properties; (can be used as a spot clearing treatment, anti-ageing purposes, scar-fader, burn healer, moisturiser – the list is endless)
• Egg white – high in collagen and vitamin A; it works to improve skin tone and elasticity revealing softer skin as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Root turmeric – containing numerous antioxidants and antibacterial properties, it is exfoliating, evens out skin tone, improves skin elasticity and regulates the production of sebum
• Ginger stem – known for its skin protective properties
• Lemon – rich in vitamin C and citric acid; it is an antioxidant, boosting collagen production, whilst brightening and exfoliating
• Clove oil – rich in numerous minerals and vitamin’s A and C; it is an aphrodisiac, therefore, an excellent stress reliever; and when applied topically, clove oil can help address skin problems like acne, sagging skin, and wrinkles
• Chickpea flour – full of proteins, folic acid and minerals; chickpea flour has a multitude of skincare benefits and can be used to exfoliate, even out skin tone, cleanse, regulate the production of sebum, fight acne and remove unwanted hair

After peeling the root turmeric and ginger stem, I chopped them into small pieces and put them into a smoothie maker. In no particular order, I then added the honey, egg white, lemon juice and a couple of drops of clove oil and blitzed the mixture for a few minutes until it reached the consistency of a slightly textured paste.

I then took a tablespoon of the mixture and combined it with a tablespoon of the chickpea flour which thickened the paste, giving it a more smoother consistency – this is enough for one person; (you can decant any leftovers of the mask into a jar and then keep it refrigerated, where it will last for up to a week).

Once prepared and having cleansed our faces, we treated ourselves to a DIY facial steam, leaning over a bowl of almost hot boiling water infused with lemon and orange zest, covering our heads with a towel to trap the steam on our face for approximately 10 minutes.

I could feel the steam softening my skin, opening my pores and cleansing my blackheads, leaving me feel extremely soothed and relaxed.

With my pores open, I gently pat down my face with a towel and applied the ubtan mask. I left it on for around 20 – 30 minutes, allowing my skin to soak up the nutrients of the ubtan mask before rinsing it off with lukewarm water, then following up with my usual routine of applying cold pressed facial rosehip oil and a moisturiser.

Does it really work? YES!!

The ubtan mask is a powerful exfoliating treatment and an amazing beauty hack which instantly leaves you feeling not only radiant but also targets other skin problems such as blackheads, whiteheads, acne and skin tanning. It’s suitable for all skin types as you can adapt the recipe to suit you and the turmeric doesn’t stain your skin, so long as you don’t mind looking like a Simpson for a little while!

The mini home spa experience was both comfortable and relaxing, giving a “lit from within” glow and allowing some downtime with some of my favourite people. You get amazing results in a short space of time, however, a word of warning: those with sensitive skin should use with caution as the mask is quite potent.

If you decide to give this face mask a go or have any other amazing DIY beauty hacks, please comment below, I’d love to try some more tips and tricks!

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