So Christmas has been and gone and we’ve wiped out our bank accounts with too much festive fun. Exams and essays have taken their toll, leaving us tired and dreary and the winter blues are now in full swing. But don’t despair; there are some cheap and cheerful ways to pep us up in our misery!
Firstly, don’t think the key to health and beauty is always through expensive lotions, potions or gadgets. There are hundreds of natural products and ways to liven us up that lie in the kitchen cupboard.Skin is the first thing to suffer in the winter months: wind, cold, rain and snow leaves us shiny red and dry as bone. But before you take a loan to buy the latest product on the market, try some brilliant natural alternatives. For example, oils are really cheap and the best thing around for your skin. Grape seed oil is a great alternative to your daily moisturiser and is full of goodness. Apply in when you wake up in the morning and then regularly throughout the day to keep skin glowing and radiant. It’s also full of antioxidants and vitamin E which keeps your skin smooth and supple. Not only that, but it’s made from wine grapes, so it will keep you smelling sweet all day long! You really can’t say no for just £2 a bottle.
Keep the cold at bay with a handy pot of Vaseline, long acknowledged as a saviour for skin! Apply to lips and chapped skin and leave your skin soft and smooth. It’s inexpensive and always reliable.
Oils are not only great for your skin, but for your hair too. Olive oil makes a great conditioner to keep hair soft and shiny. Leave it on your hair overnight, wake up in the morning and rinse thoroughly to reveal super soft and shiny hair. So yes, you can really transform sad and limp locks with a trip to the kitchen cupboard!
Keep nails in check by applying vitamin E oil, which moisturises and nourishes cuticles. Also try eating a cube of raw jelly everyday to keep your nails strong, long and resilient. We all have it in our cupboard from experimenting with vodka jelly over the years, so give it go.
Beating the winter blues isn’t just about what you put on your skin, but how you treat your body. Simple health rules will help you feel fab in the dreariest month of the year. Try drinking your recommended 8 glasses of water a day – such a simple change can work wonders. It’ll cure your tiredness and hydrate your body from the inside, leaving your hair and skin glowing. Getting the right amount of exercise is also key to a healthy you; try walking instead of getting the bus to Uni and you’ll feel more refreshed and ready to start the day. Not only that, but getting a little bit of exercise will get your blood pumping, improve your fitness and help you sleep better at night, not to mention help shift those extra mince pies off your tummy!
If you’re exercising and staying healthy, you may as well have a go at eating healthily too. Try getting in your five a day; I know it’s a pain, but it’s not as hard as you think (and cheaper than your favourite chocolate bar). You’ll feel tons better and fill your body with goodness from healthy vitamins and minerals! But, if all else fails, at least get some vitamin C and have a glass of orange juice at breakfast.
So you’re exercising, eating healthily, looking good and working hard. But most importantly our body needs plenty of sleep to function properly and keep us moving on the balancing act of being a student. As you know, most of us students abuse our bodies in more ways than one! So try treating yourself and getting between 7 ½ to 8 hours sleep per night. You’ll function better, think faster and be better equipped to withstand those long library sessions.
Finally, have some fun! Don’t let winter get you down, have that big night out and just make sure you eat healthily. Whether it’s sleeping well, eating well or taking care of your mind and body, if you make one or a few adjustments to your hectic lifestyle you’ll be sure to feel the benefits.
Follow these simple health and beauty tips and start the year feeling fab, not drab!