Natural Skincare from MySkin.ie

Hi everyone - I think I spent the best €45 I have spent in a long time today. I went to a natural skincare class this morning and it was just brilliant. Not only did I learn so much from the highly knowledgeable teacher, but I got to make four different skincare products to take home with me. When I think of the price of creams and potions at beauty counters, to say the cost of this class was money well spent is a major understatement. So you see the picture above, I made all of these products in just two and a half hours - several pots of body balm, body butter, lip balm and face serum. They feel so good on my skin and even better I know that I they contain no scary chemicals.

I also learned lots about different essential oils, which are anti-flammatory, which are good for nasea, which work really well for dry skin and even which work to plump your lips (that's spearmint by the way).

The class was given by Denise O'Connell of myskin.ie and held in Rothe House, Kilkenny (the perfect location). I first met Denise when she gave me a course of reflexology and she used some of herown balms and they were just divine. As soon as I heard she was giving this class, I jumped at the chance to do it. Since being diagnosed with cancer I have reduced my use of chemicals in my skincare. I try to use natural products but even the products labelled as natural and available in the health stores are not always as natural and chemical free as the label would make out. I think the best way to ensure I know exactly what I am rubbing on my face is to make the cream myself. I have used coconut oil as a cleanser for ages now and it is brilliant. It is by far the best cleanser I have used and I have used many over the years, some of them very pricey. I use apple cider vinegar as a toner and find it excellent. I am currently using a moisturiser and body oil from the Holos skincare range and a Voya lip balm.

I have been toying with the idea of experimenting with making my own skincare products for a while now, but with launching thehonestproject.com and working on recipes I haven't had the time to think about it. This class could not have come at a better time. I cannot believe how easy it is to make the products we made today. The body balm, body butter and lip balm have only four ingredients each and the facial serum about 7. All of the ingredients are natural, chemical free, readily available and full of goodness. The products take no time at all to make and equipment wise, all you need is a glass jug, a weighing scales, a hob and a whisk - all standard kitchen equipment.

If you would like to know more about the products from MySkin.ie or are interested in doing a course yourself, check out www.myskin.ie or contact Denise by email at info@myskin.ie. I think this would be a really great thing for a group to do together as it is so much fun - it would be perfect for a hen weekend (just add a few bottles of prosecco). I would definitely sign up to another class and I am so excited to start using my products and to start making more natural creams and potions at home. I think my friends and family will be getting homemade whipped body butters for many a birthday to come. x

#wellbeing #skincare