Hi Everyone!

Going out for a day trip with the family is always fun. Taking the kids to the beach, to the park, or for a day in the city can be great and a fun way to spend the day. If you are looking to plan some days out with your loved ones this summer, I have some items you need to pack before you head out and with the summer holidays right around the corner I thought now was the perfect time to list the essentials needed for a fun family day out! We can often get carried away with planning and having too much fun so I thought a list of those boring but necessary items would be helpful.  

Water

Staying hydrated is incredibly important, and if you are to spend some time at the beach or on a hike this summer you need to pack plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated. Ensure the kids drink enough throughout the day, and this will keep everyone happy and healthy. A great way to store water is in water bottles dedicated to each person. This way you know how much liquid everyone is consuming.

Extra clothes 

It is very likely when you go for a full day out with the family that someone will need extra clothes. Whether you get caught out in the rain without coats, your child spills something on their top, or your child has a little accident - spare clothes are a lifesaver. Remember also to save space in your bag by rolling outfits up together to keep them compact! 

A towel 

A towel is essential if you have kids or dogs and you decide to go for a walk by a river or the beach. A towel will allow you to clean and dry your child or pet before they get back in the car, ensuring that you don’t end up with a wet dog smell on your way home! It's also helpful for any spillages that may occur.

A first aid kit 

One of the most useful things you can bring with you for a family day out is a handy first aid kit for babies and toddlers. A small first aid kit will include all of the things you need to quickly patch up and clean a cut while you are out and about. It is so helpful to have this with you at all times as it will give you peace of mind if any accidents were to happen and will keep the cut patched up temporarily before you can get home and look at it properly. 

Food 

I always pack snacks no matter where we are going. Sandwiches, rice cakes, biscuits and fruit are all of the things you’ll want in your bag for a family day out. If you will be in the countryside and not have access to restaurants or shops, sandwiches are a useful choice as they are easy to hold in your hands as you walk and perfect fo a picnic. Dry foods like biscuits are also a good choice as no risk of mess. Fruit is also a great option as it is healthy and sweet so the kids don't tend to complain. This will keep everyone full on their travels and will ensure that you get no hangry members of the family! 

Spare change 

If you are planning to head out to a small town or to the beach, you will likely come across pay and display car parks. Pay and display will likely cause you to need spare change, and it is crucial you keep plenty of this on hand in case the issue arises. I always take some cash to hand too in case card isn't readily accepted.

There isn’t much more important than protecting your child from the harsh rays of the sun. Be sure that you bring some suncream and a hat with you wherever you go so that you can protect your child’s skin from burning and becoming dry. If it's warm, remember the sunglasses and hats too.

Carrier Bags

I always take a number of disposable bags or waterproof bags that I don't mind getting dry. These can hold the rubbish or any items of clothing that might get dirty while we are out. I always find it useful to have a spare bag or two as there is always something that needs cleaning or throwing away.

These are just a few of the essentials you will need when planning a day trip. There's a whole host of other things I could list but the idea is to pack lightly so you don't have to carry anything too heavy around. So remember to pack your bag with these essential items and don't forget to enjoy your trip!

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More than 1 million people worldwide are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. Therefore the importance of adequate skin protection needs to be shared. Excessive UV exposure can lead to melanoma. It is largely a preventable cancer and can be easily avoided by using sunscreen and being safe. If something looks strange or unusual just get it checked. a second opinion is always helpful. Not only does the sun cause cancer but it is the largest ageing factor for our skin, people who use SPF 15 everyday show 24% less ageing than people who don't!  Keeping safe in the sun is top priority for me as I have a young family and know how easy it is for their skin to burn. Recently I was able to take part in a Dermalogica skincare masterclass with skin charity Skcin, I learnt a lot about sun safety and I wanted to share this with you. First let's dispel some myths.

'SPF only needs to be worn in the summer' -There are two types of rays the sun radiates. Firstly UVB rays, they cause damage to the outmost layers of the skin. They effect the epidermis and can be quite intense but superficial which leads to them burning the skin. They tend to be stronger when the weather is hotter. On the other hand we have UVA rays which are the same strength and are present all year round. The UVA rays actually penetrate the skin deeper and reach the dermis. This is what makes them responsible for ageing as they target the collagen in our skin which also resides in the dermis. Another type of damaging light is blue light, this goes even deeper than UVA rays however the conversation around this is relatively new. What this highlights to me is how sunscreen is clearly an everyday product. It is not something that should just be used in summer months. 

'I don't need SPF as my skin doesn't burn.' - Did you know the more pigment you naturally make and have in your skin the more UV light is screened out? It actually naturally blocks some of the UV out, but even the darkest skin would only protect up to SPF 13, so any lighter you can imagine how easily it would burn. Therefore every skin colour needs sunscreen! 

'It's so cold out, I don't need SPF.' - The strength of the sun isn't dependent on the temperature outside. A great resource is the UV index, it tells us the levels of UVB. Things that can make UVB worse are the season, so when it is warmer, but also reflection from water or snow, clear skies and altitude. So if you've ever been on a skiing holiday or climbed a mountain the levels of UVB are high because you are exposed to so many more factors. So it really doesn't depend on the temperature.

With that being said I hope you understand how important screening your skin from the sun is. Now let's look at sunscreen. The SPF factor protects from UVB rays only. You need a broad spectrum SPF to protect from UVA rays, which causes ageing and skin cancers. They have a star rating which indicates the level of UVA ray absorbed by the sunscreen. So you need to take the SPF factor and star rating both into account when looking at the best sunscreen for you. 

There are two types of sunscreen physical or chemical. Physical sunscreens reflects the suns rays away and block the UVA/UVB from even reaching the skin. Because of this, physical sunscreens tend to be a little more chalky in texture and some leave a white caste as they are acting as a barrier. A great physical sunscreen, is Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defence because it has all the benefits of a physical sunscreen but doesn't leave the white caste, it also sets matte which is great for us oily skin gals. 

Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, work by absorbing and converting the rays into heat. They are great for most skin types and are quite light in texture. They are pretty much invisible on the skin especially the Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport. A great product that is actually water resistant for 80 minutes, making it perfect for beach or pool days. 

The amount of sunscreen we wear is also important. It is recommended your wear 5 ml of product on your face and 30ml of product on your body, at least 30 minutes before leaving the house, as it has time to dry down onto the skin. It should be reapplied every 2 hours if you are spending time outside. However, for everyday use where you may be indoors, one application or layering products is adequate enough. Using the UV index can also help to make the decision on whether you will need to reapply. Suncreen has an expiry date too, so stick to them as they they will not provide adequate protection if out of date. A great way of planning your sunscreen usage is by going to invisiblephysical.com. This gives you information on your usage based on your location and daily routine and will also tell you how long you can be outside for without sunscreen before your skin burns.

A really helpful way to remember how to be safe is by using the 5 S's of skin safety (source- Skcin charity):

Slip on a T-shirt or extra protective clothing.

Slap on the sunscreen

Slap on a broad brimmed hat

Slide on good quality sunglasses

Shade from the sun wherever possible

I hope you have found this post helpful and if anything the one thing I want you to take away is to wear your sunscreen!

Amina xx

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Hey everyone!

So summer is finally here and that (hopefully) means more time spent at the beach enjoying the sunshine and cooling off in the sea. Some of you may have already made the most of what the UK beaches have to offer and I definitely plan on a few staycations once schools break up for summer holidays. That being said, I thought it was the perfect time to discuss beach safety. Kids love exploring the beach, looking for crabs, collecting seashells or building sandcastles, and it’s great to see them out there having fun and making memories, but there is no denying that the beach is home to many potential hazards from the rapidly changing tides to the potential of losing sight of your children. Therefore keeping your kids safe at the beach should be a top priority and hopefully these simple tips will allow you to be safe while still having fun.

Water wings

Whether your child is a good swimmer or not, when you’re hitting the beach, it’s a good idea to pack a set of water wings or arm bands for each child just so they can have that extra level of protection. You just never know when the weather is going to take a turn for the worse or the riptides are going to come along and pull you all further out to sea, so having water wings on is a great way to help the kids if they get into trouble. They are comfortable and the cute prints make them something children actually want to wear.

Avoid other inflatables

That being said, it’s probably a good idea to keep other inflatables like rubber rings and lilos away from the beach. Why? Because it’s really easy for them to be carried out to sea on a strong current or if the wind picks up. That is really the last thing you want to happen, so keep big inflatables to pools only.

Monitor them

This one might seem simple but it is easy to lose sight of them. Losing sight of your child at the beach is one of the scariest things you can ever encounter as a parent, therefore keeping them close by is a must. However if your child is old enough to have a smartphone and a little more independence, then you might want to invest in a waterproof case and have your child keep it on them instead of leaving it at home. You can also take it a step further by using monitoring software, which you can read about here in a guide by Family Orbit, to keep track of them. It might sound a bit much, but if you are unable to get through to them via a telephone call at least you will be able to quickly pinpoint their location and track them down.

Watch out for jellyfish

Jellyfish are really common on UK beaches, so it is important that you know how to spot them, and you teach your kids how to spot them too. To be honest I have mainly seen dead ones but they can still cause stings. It is also important that you teach the kids to stay calm if there is a jellyfish nearby, slowly moving away from the potential threat.

If they do get stung, then it is important that you don’t rub the affected area, as that will just make it worse,  but seek medical advice as soon as possible, Oh, and peeing on the sting won’t really help, so you can skip that too.

Get to know beach flags

Beach flags can tell you a whole lot about the safety of the beach you’re on, and what you should and should not do, so knowing them ultimately will help to keep you all safe. For example, a red flag means no swimming is permitted at all, and an orange windsock means the wind conditions are dangerous. These are just two examples - you should learn all of the flag signals before you head off for a fun family day at the beach as simple but deadly mistakes can easily be made.

Water and sunscreen

It should go without saying but if you are heading off to the beach with the kids, pack plenty of sunscreen and enough water to last you all all day, especially if there are no shops nearby where you can get a cool drink. Probably the biggest threats to kids on the beach are dehydration and sunburn or heatstroke, so this really is one of the most important things you need to do. It's a good idea to freeze some bottles of water or drink the night before and to take a cooler bag with you that way your liquids will stay cool all day long.

Spend some time in the shade

Spending some time in the shade at the hottest times of the day, in summer,  will help to prevent sunburn and sunstroke, so be sure to take some time out to find a shady spot or take along your own parasols to help keep you cool and keep the fun going. And of course try wearing a wide brimmed hat that keeps their eyes and neck shaded is a must.

Constant supervision

To be honest, probably the best way to keep your kids safe at the beach is to ensure that someone always has eyes on them. It only takes a second for them to wander off or for a wave to sweep your child under, so it’s important that you always have to eyes on them when they are on the beach.

Don’t let the potential dangers put you off visiting the beach - accidents are rare - and the beach is a great place to let off steam, just be careful! Some of my favourite memories have been made on the beach, the kids just seem to love the sun, sea and sand and I can see why, the combination of the warmth from the sun and the sound of the water is the ultimate relaxation treat!

Amina xx

Recently I have been using an amazing serum by NYK1! Secrets on my eyelashes and brows to help them grow. There are many options for both lashes and brows these days. I have had lash extensions and also used false lashes before. With my brows I have used pencils and also considered getting them micro bladed. However after years of using brow pencils I really wanted something that was going to be a little more permanent. I looked into micro blading but felt like my eyebrows were not so thin that they needed that treatment, but at the same time I was tired of having to fill them in everyday. This is where Brow Force came into play. With my lashes I was never satisfied with them, constantly seeking treatments but that all changed once I started using Lash Force.

Lash Force is a serum you apply over the top of your lashes where they meet the eye lid. The ingredients work to increase the blood flow and over time lengthen lashes. I was dubious at first as I had used other serums in the past that only seemed to condition my lashes rather than lengthen them but after 6 weeks of use I started to notice results. 

My eyelashes became longer. The difference is noticeable both with and without mascara. My eyelashes seem so much more thicker too. It has really made a difference to my confidence as I feel as though lashes make a big difference to the face. See my progress over 3 months below:

Top to bottom: Before to after.

Left to right: Progress over 3 months.