What You Need To Know About Body Piercing

Even though body piercings are not as permanent as tattoos, you should still be cautious about where and how you receive them. After all, body art is a form of self-expression. There are numerous sorts and styles to pick from, not to mention body parts. And the pain, hazards, and recovery timeframes vary by piercing type. These criteria might help you make the best choice and prepare for a new piercing.

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So, while obtaining a tiny piercing may appear simple, there is a lot to consider. It's crucial to go to a reputed studio with a clean environment and follow the aftercare recommendations carefully to avoid infection. After all, you want to be healthy, safe, and happy with your new body art for years to come.

Did you know only 7% of the population have piercings in other parts of their body aside from their ears? If you want your first piercing or another one in a different body part, this post looks at some of the details you should know before adding more holes to your body.

Piercings are Prone to Infection

Minor infections are the number one complication of ear piercings, and over 35% of people can experience some form of infection. Making sure your piercer is working in a clean and sterile environment reduces the risk of contamination. However, other lifestyle elements coming into contact with your new piercing can also introduce bacteria. Clothing, hair, even skin, along with creams and perfumes, are all irritants and can allow for an infection to take hold.

Allergic Reactions

Another factor to consider is that some people can have an allergic reaction to the metal used in the jewellery being put into their bodies. This is especially common with ear piercings, mainly because they are the most popular type. 

Shop for silver helix earrings online; choose 9kt or 18k gold or surgical grade stainless steel or titanium. Metals containing alloys, nickel (which is the number one metal for allergic reactions from piercings), cobalt or white gold can all cause allergic reactions.

A Piercing Is A Wound

Keep in mind, when you get a piercing, you are essentially causing trauma to your body and creating a wound from which you will need to heal. The jewellery in the hole you make will stop the wound from healing completely, providing you keep it in place. But you need to expect some recovery time; pain and soreness is part of the process, so be aware of this before getting your new piercing.

Piercings Are Art

Initially, the placement and position of your piercing are essential, and a well-trained and experienced piercer can help you get the right spot. After this, once you have had your piercing completed, it is about showing it off. After all, people wear jewellery as a statement, so consider when choosing what and where you want to create your mark. 

Cleanliness is Next To Godliness

You may have heard this from well-meaning family members over your lifetime. But when it is said concerning piercings, there is no such thing as too clean. Cleaning your new addition regularly can help you avoid any infections and damage to your piercing and the wound caused by it.

Use sterile antibacterial products designed specifically for this purpose and pay attention to changing shapes or appearance to identify a problem. Move the earring or bar regularly to avoid it sticking in place and to retain comfort.

Pass on Ointment

New thinking suggests this way of thinking is out of date. You would apply antibiotic ointment to a wound; why not apply it to your new piercing as well? Because ointment does not rinse the piercing as effectively as a saline wash, dust or other irritants in the air may actually adhere to the goo, making their way into the piercing later in the healing process.

Piercers Are Unregulated

There are currently no laws or regulations as to who can perform piercings. If you go to a national brand, chances are they will have some training programme in place for employees carrying out this procedure, especially on children.

The best way to find reputable piercers is to ask around family and friends who will undoubtedly have stories about good and bad experiences.

Remember, while studios may impose their own age restrictions, legally, there is nothing in place to stop anyone from walking into a piercing studio at any time. Most businesses require parental consent for under 16s legally; they can do the piercing even if it is a morally grey area.

You Should View Piercings as Permanent

Never go into this thinking it is ok if it goes wrong or you don't like it as you can remove it. Having a pat of your body pierced is essentially mutilating your skin, and you will never be 100% able to undo this. You may find the hole will close over time if you remove any jewellery, but you could be left with a scar.

If you are not ready for this reality, maybe you need to think about whether or not this is for you. This is why many people advise against getting tiny babies' ears pierced. Their bodies are only just beginning to be formed and are still underdeveloped. Due to this, what looks good on a baby may look out of shape or position on toddlers and young children. If you remove the piercing, they will forever have a reminder of this on their ears, for example, and in the future, it could interfere with newer attempts to re-pierce the ears or result in damage complications.

When it comes down to it, it is your body, and you are within your rights to treat it how you see fit. That being said, it pays to be fully informed about any decisions you are making concerning changing your body permanently to choose the best option for you and avoid any excess damage and complications down the line. This will allow you the best possible chance of healing so you can enjoy your new piercing for many years to come.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Things I love having done!

Do you ever sit back, daydream, think wishfully that you could just pop into your local spa/hairdressing salon or even spend the day with your closest and mostest for some pampering?  I know I do.  I have gone from hating strangers touching me, fear of the hairdressers to absolutely loving being pampered, though please stay away from my feet, that is one phobia I cannot deal with.

This is a post about some of the things I absolutely love being done to me and why, honestly it isn't as rude as it sounds.  As a beauty blogger, you won't be surprised to find out what they are and why.

I have quite a busy and stressful job, at times all I want to do is sit back or indeed lay back and escape from that world and just do something for me, sadly I don't get too many opportunities to do those very often, but if I did, well this is what I would want.

Someone washing my hair for me

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One thing that I absolutely love having done whenever I go to the salon for a haircut/trim is having someone else wash my hair.  Not a chore in itself and it is something I actually don't mind doing, but it is just so relaxing when someone else does it for you and combined with a head massage, hair brushing and temple rubbing, I am almost snoring in minutes.

Having a facial

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I haven't had many in my life, well two actually but I do love having a facial.  Both times I have been lucky enough to have one, it has been totally amazing, relaxing and de-stressing not to mention that feeling of total cleanness afterwards is something I can never repeat at home.

Having a manicure

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This is something I have recently started to really really enjoy.  I had a bad experience of a manicure when I was at University and the manicurist at the time, instead of filing my nails, used scissors to cut them, slipped with the scissors and anyway... needless to say I have had a fear since. 

 Now having been to a few blogger events and met some absolutely lovely manicurists, this is something i had begun to enjoy and something I look forward to having done.

Hand and arm massage

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This is another treatment that I find really relaxing, though it has been a while since I have had it done.  It is incredibly relaxing to have something massage both your hands and your arms using many lotions and potions.  The last one I had was at a beauty event with Debenhams last year and the lovely ladies of Elemis were on hand to do this exact treatment and it was pure heaven.

Back and Shoulder massage

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This is possibly one of the best treatments ever, though again, a bad experience when I was at Uni for a spa day with my housemates terrified me.  The masseuse was so rough with massaging my shoulders that I screamed in pain for her to stop because it was utter agony and for weeks it hurt like anything to move.

Then a few years ago, I took the plunge having had chronic back-ache for weeks to go and have a massage and honestly it was the most amazing thing ever, so relaxing and de-stressing and something that almost had me in a deep sleep.  I find that with having a stressful job my shoulders are usually always quite tense and having them massaged literally cures everything for me.

So there you have, the top 5 things I love having done.  

Do you have a favourite treatment you like to have? is there anything you absolutely swear by?

My favourite products of 2013 - Part Two!

So, you have already seen my favourite Lip Products which I posted yesterday and you can find for yourself HERE and today I am going to bring to you my favourite Hair and Body products and there are quite a few to go through within the category as it includes shampoo, conditioners, shower gels and so on.

Hair and Body

Inhibitif - I couldn't really do a favourites product and not feature this one could I?  I have absolutely loved discovering this product and even now 8 months on, I am still using it and the results are just as brilliant i.e less leg shaving.  Inhibitif and the people behind the product at Deciem have also been wonderful and they gave me the opportunity to appear on the product packaging, which in itself is simply amazing and I also appeared in The Sun Newspaper too and you can see both below:

When you are next in Boots buying a new Razor or some hair removing cream, look for Inhibitif and there you will find me and my blog on the packaging.

Bubb & Dimples have managed to combine two of my loves into one - Candles and skincare.  I was first introduced to them back in July and reviewed some of their products HERE.  What I love about these candles is not only do they smell absolutely amazing they are all handmade here in the UK and they literally are a spa in a jar.  As you melt the candles they produce a nourishing body oil which is so moisturising they are wonderful.

label.m - Another company that I love.  I have used a lot of products from label.m and am yet to be disappointed in anything I use.  Shown in the photo above there is Protein Spray, Dry Shampoo and the Honey and Oat Shampoo and Conditioner all of which I have reviewed.  What I love about label.m products is that I have thin, fine hair but a lot of it and my job is quite stressful and I suffer with a dry, flaky scalp not to mention greasy roots and generally my hair can be an utter nightmare.  All of the products I have used to date from this brand have left my hair and scalp feeling wonderful and has given my hair a lovely healthy shine.

Amie - Another brand that I have only come across thanks to being a blogger and another brand I love.  Spring Clean Cooling Mask which I reviewed HERE and Morning Dew Moisturiser which you can find a review about HERE are two products I have found myself going back to time and time again.

Snow Fairy - Well no review of 2013 would be complete without a mention of my all time favourite shower gel and a review of which you can find HERE.  I absolutely love the scent and the fact it is pink gets the big thumbs up from me and as soon as Lush announce it is on sale I am in one of the stores to stock up.

Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy - I was lucky enough to win this bath and shower gel from Bodhi in a giveaway and I absolutely love it.  A review of it you can find HERE. I love the fact it smells simply wonderful, so fresh and relaxing and as soon as I have got into my bath, I instantly feel more at ease and have no trouble sleeping afterwards.

Macademia Hair Masque - It was a toss up between this and label.m intensive mask, but as I have run out of label.m and threw the pot away into my recycling, I have been unable to feature it in the photo but it is fabulous.  This mask from Macademia smells wonderful and it leaves me hair feeling really nourished and shiney.

Moroccanoil Frizz Control - I got this back in September in a Limebox which you can read about HERE and it is a fabulous product.  Perfect for when I have straightened my hair with my GHDs and am in need of a little serum to tame those few unruly hairs which refuse to stay put, one little spritz and my hair looks perfect, or as near to perfect as I can get it to look.

Soap & Glory Sugarcrush Body Scrub - Not a product I have yet reviewed on my blog which I am surprised by because I absolutely love this scrub,  It smells really zesty and is perfect for waking you up in a morning and as it scrub it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

Elemis Fresh Skin - I got this from the July London Meet up in my goody bag and it was my first real introduction to Elemis and one that I have really enjoyed.  I reviewed this product HERE and what I like about it is how kind it is to the skin but effective at removing dead and dry skin cells to leave my skin looking and feeling soft, smooth and moisturised.

Tangle Teezer - I reviewed this product HERE and was lucky enough to be sent it from WIMH back in August and I probably use it everyday without fail.  It is curved to make it easy to hold when you are brushing your hair and it also goes through my hair without pulling any hair out or causing any damage.

So there you have my hair and body favourites of 2013 and you might be wondering about body moisturisers and why one isn't included, well I am yet to find one that I could call a favourite, there are however a few that I like. 

Would any of these products feature in your favourites of 2013?

My favourite products of 2013 - Part one!

It has taken me quite a long time to do this post, sorting products out into groups and categories hasn't been easy, but I have done it and these are my products of 2013, though they have been split into categories to make the posts a little shorter.

Lip care

Lips are an important part of my beauty regime and I am always trying to ensure they are in good condition and don't look dry, flaking and chapped because for me there is nothing worse.  Your lips are such an important feature and you do so much with them whether it is eating food, having a drink, kissing someone or even talking, your lips are one of your main features and should be as cared for as every other part of your body.

I have a bit of an obsession with lip products as you can see HERE and I am never without a lip balm, lip cream or lip something and these are my all time favourite lip products.  Starting with:

Dr Lipp - I got this product in a Glossybox and wrote a post about it which you can read HERE.  Quite a few people have compared it to the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and I disagree, I cannot stand the 8 hour cream at all.  Dr Lipp is brilliant and I use when my lips are really dry and put it on before I go to bed and I wear it during the daytime especially if the weather is really cold.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub - One of the first items I wrote about on my blog which you can see HERE, this product is an absolute lifesaver and the best lip scrub I have ever used.  For those of you who are fans of Snow Fairy (like me) this scrub smells exactly like the shower gel.  So what is the point of it?  Well like any piece of skin on your body, it gets old and tired, dries out a bit and falls off, so Bubblegum is an exfoliator for your lips which, with a gentle massaging action, helps to remove that dead skin leaving your lips feeling soft and smooth.

Bach Rescue Balm - This is another one of my go to lip products when they are particularly when my lips look like they are dry and chapped and this is another product I usually slather my lips in over night and it works wonders.  It smells of lemons and is both Paraben and lanolin free and can also be used on your temples for relaxation purposes - something I am yet to try.

Korres Lip Butter - I am a huge fan of the Korres range, whether it is a shower gel, a lip balm or a lip butter, I love them and this particular lip butter, Guava is my favourite from the range and I posted about it HERE.  As a lip butter it is really lovely to apply and it smells divine, really moisturising and long lasting once on your lips.

So there you have it.  My first favourites of 2013 post and there are 4 more to come in my little series of posts - Hair and Body, Make-up and Perfume are to follow.

Do you have a favourite lip product? 

Would or do any of my favourites feature in your favourites?

Ted Baker Last Minute Stocking Fillers for Him and Her

Okay so how many of you still have one or two last minute gifts to get and really do not want to be running around like a headless chicken?  Well look no further, I have some fantastic products that would make amazing stocking fillers for both him and her.

I have featured a few Ted Baker products on my blog in the last month and I am so impressed with them, I had to share them.  You can find Putting on the Glitz HERE gift set here which features an illuminating Highlighter, a bronzing compact, a Kabuki Brush and a Bronzing glow and if that isn't enough, you can find some Ted Baker eyelash curlers and nail buffer HERE.  All of these products arrive in fantastic packaging and can be found in Boots!

Today I have the Ted's Big swig gift set £12* and it features a 200ml hair and body wash, a 150ml body spray and a large water bottle. I really like the packaging within which these products arrive and it has the following description:

"For maximum performance with minimum sweat, the fresh, invigorating top notes of this (be)spoke Body Spray and Hair & Body Wash contrast neatly with this aerodynamically designed water bottle from Ted. After all, whether a grand tourer or a sprint specialist, everyone needs to whet their whistle from time to time! The Ted Baker Ted’s Big Swig gift set includes Hair & Body Wash that work in tandem with your physique to ensure you’re always oiled for choice, along with Body Spray as fresh as a bright yellow jersey...Saddle up!"

Then we have a gift for the girls, well two actually and they come in the form of nail polish duos.  First up we have Cherry Bomb Duo* £8.50. Described as:

"Put a little fizz in your day with Ted's girly and delicious Cherry Bomb, perfect for girls with a seriously cheeky side"

As you can see from the photos, the first shade is deep cherry colour which is absolutely stunning on its own, never mind with the addition of the sparkle called Sugar Rush, which I also adore.  

The second set I have is called Blue Moon Duo* £8.50 and as before there is a nail polish in a beautiful deep blue shade, so deep it is almost black, I absolutely love it and you can see how blue it is once the light catches it.  Add some sparkle called Space Dust and you add a bit more beauty to your nail colour.  Described as:

" The stunning Blue Moon is for girls who like to maintain a little mystery"

Now hopefully this post has given you some ideas for those last final few presents that you need to get to complete your Christmas Shopping.

Do you have any of these Ted Baker products?  Do you want them?

Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy by Bodhi

A few months ago I was lucky enough to win Sandra from Beauty Balm's Summer Giveaway, see the post here and since that win I think I have completely fallen in love with the Bodhi Product especially the Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy.

I am new to Bodhi products, I had at the time only read about them across the Bloggersphere and never tried anything from the range, so trying something for the first time is always quite exciting.  Given the following description from Bodhi:

"Rejuvenate the body and mind with our revitalising fusion of Peppermint, Marjoram and Frankincense. This is not for the faint hearted – get your skin and senses ready for an instant burst of life! Skin is highly refreshed and rejuvenated, cleansed but never taut or dry. All skin types, especially dull or oily. Great for after sports"

All I can say to you is that it is simply amazing. If you want something to wake you up in a morning when you have a shower, well it certainly does that with both the Peppermint and Spearmint working together to wake you up and alert your senses, not only that but they also work to boost your circulation and if you have dry skin, they help to nourish. There are a whole host of other essential oils within this product too, such as:

• Frankincense - is a calming ingredient which can help soothe and relieve muscle aches and pains.  It also rejuvenates the skin
• Marjoram helps to relieve stress and like Frankincense helps to calm and soothe as it has good muscle relaxant properties
• Lavender & Rosemary whilst both have antiseptic properties but also have other uses such as -  Lavender tones and revitalises the skin, so if like me you can be prone to oily skin it can be useful.  Rosemary on the skin helps to ease congestion, puffiness and swelling as well as improving your circulation.
• Lactic Acid helps to rejuvenate as well as help with anti-ageing.

Naturally there are many more essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, May Chang, Thyme and finally Clove, all of which you can read by visiting the website.

As well using this in the shower, you can use it in the bath which I have done on quite a few occasions and put simply it is so relaxing I almost fall asleep everytime I use it.  

For more information on this product or anything else in the Bodhi range you can find them HERE and this particulatly product retails at £23 for 250ml and it is worth every single penny!  They also only test their products on humans and not on animals!

Have you tried any products from Bodhi and have a favourite?

Is it really a Miracle Oil?

When Bio Oil first hit the UK market back in 2002 I remember quite a few of my friends buying it and using it and over the year a lot of my friends who have had children have used it to keep their stretch marks at bay.  I have never had children, but I naturally have a few marks on my body, some of which I more than want to hide from view.

The Bio Oil bottle is encased in a cardboard box which is both white in colour and detailed with a bright orange, almost luminous writing.  You are told on the box that it is for specialist skincare and that helps scars, stretch marks and so on.  Everything you need to know about this product can be found written on the box - everything from what it is, how to use it, what it does and its ingredients are all detailed.  

Opening the box there is a further information leaflet inside which re-iterates what you will have read on the box.  Then comes the Bio Oil bottle -  a clear see through plastic bottle with a white screw on and off lid, your eyes are immediately drawn to the Oil inside the bottle which you can clearly see, a first description of it, I would say it is a slightly orange colour.

One of Bio Oils key ingredients is called 'PurCellin Oil' which is easily absorbed into the skin and this particular ingredient is said to help with : 

Dehydrated Skin: Helps replenish the skin’s natural oils, stripped away by factors such as extreme weather, water with high chemical content, frequent bathing and the drying effects of central heating and air-conditioning



Weight Related Stretch Marks:  Helps prevent formation of stretch marks during periods of rapid weight gain or loss and helps to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks



Uneven Skin Tone: Helps improve appearance of uneven skin tone caused by hormonal fluctuations, skin lighteners or excessive sun exposure



Ageing Skin: Helps smooth and tone ageing, sagging and wrinkled skin on both the face and body, including skin over exposed to UV light. Plus ideal for age spots and softening cuticles



Daily Moisturiser: Helps moisturise the skin and can be used in conjunction with other skincare products as part of your everyday skincare routine. Built into a daily skin care routine, Bio-Oil can be applied all over the body, including the face, on its own or underneath a daily moisturizer, or as a night treatment. Great for dry patches such as dry elbows, heels and anywhere else that needs some TLC
• Scars:  Improves appearance of new and old scars whether from surgery, accidents, burns, insect bites, scratches and chickenpox.

You can see more information on Bio-Oil and all of its claims here - http://www.bio-oilprofessional.co.uk/

Bio oil is designed to help improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks, help with uneven skin tone and hydrate aging skin, whilst combating fine lines and wrinkles. Bio oil is made without harming animals and contains an ingredient called PurCellin Oil, it is toxicological safe and can be used by pregnant women. Other ingredients within this product include:

Vitamin A – helps improve the skin’s elasticity, texture and tone
• Vitamin E – helps increases the moisture content of the epidermis, thereby making the skin softer, smoother and more supple. Vitamin E also assists in the maintenance of healthy-looking skin
• Calendula Oil – has the ability to clarify and stimulates the growth of new skin cells
• Lavender Oil – known for calming and soothing benefits
• Rosemary Oil – helps to invigorate and it has a mild antiseptic capabilities and thus eases congestion, puffiness and swelling of the skin
• Chamomile Oil – has a calming and soothing effect and is particularly beneficial for sensitive skin

Further details on the rest of the ingredients can be found on the Bio Oil homepage which you can find HERE

As this oil has quite a thin consistency, you might need to be careful when dispensing it, though the bottle has its own inbuilt dispenser to help with applying it, but I tend to use it by pouring some into the palm of my hands and then rubbing my palms together before applying to the skin.  When you apply this oil to the skin, it wont come as a surprise to find that it is greasy, but only for those few seconds it remains on your skin without being massaged in, the second you begin to massage your skin it disappears immediately and all it leaves behind is a lovely rose and lavender scent on your skin.

I have a few scars on my body from injuries, one which really makes me feel self conscious was on my foot.  When I was 10 years old I managed to put a gardening fork through my foot (yes I did) and then pulled it out again.  I am sure you can imagine the damage it caused and over the years this scar has been something I have been embarrassed by, so this was my main ‘attack’ area with Bio Oil, the other being a scar on my wrist from an iron.  So since the beginning of February, I have used Bio Oil, as instructed on many scars across my body, but mainly on these two and I am amazed by what I have found.  Below is a photo of my ironing injury, as you can see there is a slight outline of what was once there, usually I have my watch covering the majority of the scar, so there are no other photos of it, but the difference for me is amazing.  The scar on my foot is much older than the one on my wrist and again there has been a noticeable improvement in how the scar looks, it has faded a lot and again for me this is brilliant.  

Bio Oil does advise that you should use this oil for a minimum of 3 months and whilst for me we are almost at the 6 week stage, half way there, the changes are really significant. I am beginning to feel much more at ease and I know that it cannot remove these permanent scars, but it has made living with them much easier.

For me, this has been a brilliant oil  and with its many uses, it is something I think everyone should try, if they haven’t done so already and probably something someone should have in their home somewhere for when they need that little extra bit of TLC or want to try it for themselves.  It is available in three different sizes:

• 60ml rsp £8.95
• 125ml rsp £14.95
• 200ml rsp £19.95

And you will find it in a whole host of stores, such as -  Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Asda, Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Savers, Wilkinsons, and many independent pharmacies nationwide.   Bio Oil also have a Facebook page which you can find here -https://www.facebook.com/biooiluk

Finally Bio-Oil is preservative-free and is not tested on animals. 

Have you ever used Bio-Oil?  What did you think to it?