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The Kikki Edit

The Kikki Edit

a lifestyle blog by Keerthana

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Simple Skincare on a Budget.

26 Jan 2020

beautymindful living

When I was entering my 20s, beauty bloggers were starting to make their mark as influencers on social media. As an impressionable individual, I bought into the consumerism of the beauty industry. There wasn’t a blush, lipstick, toner or facial oil that I couldn’t convince myself superfluous in my kit/routine; because, hey! If it worked for them, it must also work for me, right?! 

I went from a teenager who owned just one red lipstick to a young adult who ‘needed‘ a 10-step skincare routine and a makeup drawer full of concealers, eyeshadows and blushers.

Needless to say, my skin paid the price for it.

I won’t exaggerate and say that I was covered in acne, but it was enough for me to start feeling insecure and conscious about my break-out prone skin.

Only, I was then convinced that I needed more

products to help solve the problem than to take a step back and give my skin some time to breathe.

In the past eight months, due to admittedly abject laziness and other life priorities, I cut back on the time I spent on my skincare routine. Now, I have a simple, three-step cycle consisting of a cleanser, a toner and a moisturiser … and wouldn’t you know it? — there has been a significant improvement in my skin than ever before!

The results kicked in during the 2nd month of this trial when I went abroad on holiday and took minimal skincare with me. I was so worried that a change of water, pollution and climate would break me out even more, but was surprised to find that my skin continued to improve.

Since returning from holiday, I took inspiration from more natural products and methods tried and tested by real women around me: my friends and family. And the results have been spectacular!


1. Papaya Peel

I’m an island girl: born in Sri Lanka then raised in England, and I love exotic Asian fruits. Papaya is one of my favourites. When my mum once suggested rubbing papaya peel on my face as a mask-treatment, I rolled my eyes at her.

But if there is one thing that is true about my mum, it is the fact that she is as stubborn as a mule and will persist until you try what she says at least once. So, I did.

And I regret to say, she was right.

Papaya is a beta-carotene-rich food filled with powerful enzymes and phytochemicals that are good for the skin. The enzymes slow down the formation of fine lines and wrinkles by combating free radicals.

The secret beauty nutrient in papaya is papain, an enzyme that has skin-lightening properties and can reduce the visibility of blemishes and acne scars. Together with alpha-hydroxy acids, papain acts as a gentle exfoliator that dissolves inactive protein and dead skin cells. Applying papaya topically to the skin will soften your skin, leaving it smooth and supple.

So there you go, you can make use of all parts of the fruit.

2. Aloe Vera

This one is more of a recent discovery. Upon the recommendation of a friend and I started using aloe vera gel-based products at nights as a cleanser and moisturiser.

Applied topically, the gel (which has a high water content: 99.5%) is incredibly hydrating, soothing and cooling. It’s also a powerful anti-inflammatory and can treat skin conditions including psoriasis, sunburn, acne, dry skin and frostbite.

My nighttime routine now consists of a double cleanse to remove all makeup and impurities from my skin and follow up with aloe vera gel. The transformation in my skin over the past six months has been nothing but miraculous. I no longer break-out as often as I used to, I still get the odd hormonal breakout, however, it is far less severe than it has ever been.

3. Rose Water Toner

There is a funny anecdote that goes with this: a friend of mine is never seen without her bottle of rose water. We laugh when she takes out a bottle at the end of brunch or during college class and starts spraying herself to give her skin a hydration boost. But in all honesty, she’s probably got the best skin I have seen.

Clear, unblemished and glowing.

The best thing about rose water is that it can be used as a toner and as a face mist. I bought a large bottle from Amazon and dispensed some into a spray bottle.

On nights where I have been wearing a full face of makeup or feel that my skin is looking a little bit dull, I soak some cotton pads with the rose water and wipe over my face to tone after cleansing. My skin always feels supple and bright the next morning.

4. Cucumber Water

This has been a newer addition to my skincare routine, it’s less of a topical application and rather more of daily intake.

I have heard and read time and time again during my research that drinking water is a must. Any good source will dictate your daily water intake as the biggest contributor to clearer, brighter and healthier skin.

One of the things that I have struggled most with is drinking my daily 6-8 glasses of water. Over Christmas, my friend suggested adding cucumber slices to my water as it not only adds flavour but also boosts hydration. Cucumbers are rich in vitamins A through E and K, beta carotene, manganese, and antioxidants.

Apparently all the models in New York swear by it.

How to Make Cucumber Water

Making cucumber water is pretty simple:

  1. Slice a cleaned cucumber into 1/2 inch slices.
  2. Combine cucumber slices in water, and top with ice. Allow it to marinate for at least an hour. (For best results, allow it to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.)

My mum’s homemade, organic honey & turmeric mask

Ingredients:
2 tbsp Organic Besan Flour
1 tbsp Organic Honey
1tsp Organic Turmeric
2tbsp Organic Natural Yoghurt
1/2tsp Olive Oil

Simply mix these ingredients together and apply to face. Leave on for 20 minutes, or until the mix dries up on the skin. Gently exfoliate away with warm water until all residue is removed. Follow up with a toner to ensure all traces of turmeric is removed and apply your skincare to protect the skin.

+10

Beauty, Mindful Living aloe vera skincare, cucumber water, currently popular, homemade mask, honey and turmeric mask, natural skincare, rose water toner, skincare, skincare routine

More on the blog

Sundaze 02.

What to do with fast fashion in your closet?

5 Lessons from 2019 to take into 2020.

10 Tips to Stay Sane While Working From Home.

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Adding a little bit of sparkle and joy ✨ and bak Adding a little bit of sparkle and joy ✨ and baking some doughnuts 🍩 on Christmas Eve!
UPSIDE DOWN MANGO CAKE RECIPE Ingredients TOPPIN UPSIDE DOWN MANGO CAKE RECIPE

Ingredients

TOPPING
1 large mango, peeled and cut into 0.5cm slices
65g brown sugar
55g butter, melted

CAKE
Wet-Mix
180ml milk (semi-skimmed)
1 tsp vanilla essence
60g butter, melted

Dry Mix
195g plain flour
1 1/2tsp baking soda
170g caster sugar
A pinch of sea salt

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180C / Gas Mark 4 and grease an 8” diameter cake tin and line it with baking parchment. 
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3. Pour the caramel into your cake tin, covering the bottom completely if possible. Neatly lay all the mango strips in the cake tin, starting with the edges first & working your way in.
4. Combine all the wet ingredients in measuring jug. In a large mixing bowl sift together the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet mix and fold together using your spatula in a figure of 8 motion.
5. Pour the cake mixture directly onto the mango into the cake tin and give it a little tap on the surface to remove any air pockets.
6. Pop the cake into the oven on the bottom shelf to bake for 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the cake and removed comes out clean.
7. Once the cake has cooked, allow it to slightly cool for 5 minutes before removing it from the tin. Serve the cake with coconut cream, fresh mint leaves & little lime juice.
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I have gone to my GP many times over the last 10 years informing them that I'm losing a lot of hair and that I didn't feel like it was normal. Their initial response the first few times I raised a concern? That it was “normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day.” What I perhaps didn't know to express was that yes, it's normal to lose that amount -- only when there is regrowth. It was only last year, after being sent to multiple blood tests and receiving normal health reports, I grew fed up and decided to reach out to a trichologist. 
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Only in speaking to a professional who specialises in human hair and scalp, did I come to realise that though I was prescribed iron tablets for being borderline anaemic, I should be on a higher dose. Though my Vitamin D levels were low and I was prescribed tablets, I should be on a higher dose. Dandruff is also a contributor to hair loss - something I'd suffered with on and off since I hit puberty. Depression and stress are also factors that contribute to hair loss. It's your body's way of telling you that something is wrong, so pay attention to the signs and take action.
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#letstalkabouthairloss #hairpositivity #hairloss
When the @mysmartskin team sent over a moodboard f When the @mysmartskin team sent over a moodboard for the photoshoot planned for the brand launch; there was a photo with a similar pose to this that I loved and wanted to recreate. 
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#letstalkabouthairloss #hairpositivity #hairloss
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Corset: @asos 
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@bobbibrown skin foundation 
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Oof. Oh boy ... alright, here we go. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ Oof. Oh boy ... alright, here we go. 
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I don't know why it's taken me such a long time to share this -- well actually, that's a lie. I do know why. Hair loss is something that is often brushed aside, hidden under depths of shame and despair as another 'taboo' topic that are deemed too uncouth for women to talk about openly. 
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#letstalkabouthairloss #hairpositivity #femalehairloss #hairloss
Raise a little hell ... ⁣ Inspired by #pulpficti Raise a little hell ...
⁣
Inspired by #pulpfiction
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