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Pretty Big Butterflies

Family, Food & Plus Size Fashion Blog

How We Improved Our Toddlers Eczema #OneTwoFreeYourSkin

When you’re a new parent…. scrap that. When you’re a parent full stop, it’s so hard to know what’s best for your child. It’s all a learning curve. However, there’s one thing for sure, when you find a hero product that works, you keep hold of it. No matter what. So far, in our 21 months of parenthood, one of our hero products is Epaderm.

How We Improved Our Toddlers Ezcema #OneTwoFreeYourSkin

When Cameo, our eldest was about 9 months old he started to get dry skin on his elbows and knees. Then, to cut a long story short, he became really poorly and his skin just flared up. It turned out that it was eczema. His skin had flared up tremendously by him being so unwell and it’s pretty much been there ever since. It varies from day to day depending on the weather, what he wears and even if he has a little cold or not. His arms have really improved and the eczema is hardly noticeable most days. His little legs have always been the worst. We ended up going to the doctors about it because he was constantly itching and his legs were turning into two little sore red poles. We even had to stop our swimming lessons because he skin was just becoming so bad.

Cameo had to have steroid cream and after going back to the doctors a few times I was adamant that he couldn’t just keep having steroid cream when it flared up. Being a new mum, all this was new to me! After a few trial and errors, the doctor actually recommended Epaderm and we got a prescription to try some. Honestly, it was and has been the only cream that has helped reduce the redness and soreness of his eczema long term. So much so, that over a year later we’re still using it and buying it ourselves!

Epaderm and certain skin conditions, such as dry skin, eczema and psoriasis - review

It’s really improved our toddler’s skin and generally, it’s still a bit red but not sore. (Unless he plays on grass where it tends to flare up a bit more) But compared to when we first started using it, his skin is so SO much better. I know it makes a difference because when we stop using it for a couple of days, Cameos’ skin starts flaring up again. It’s amazing how it improves and soothes. You just have to keep applying it and don’t give up.

For reference, there is an Epaderm Ointment too which is a bit like petroleum jelly but a little softer. It’s supposed to be the best but personally, the cream worked much better for us. We found it hydrated Cameos legs better and was a little less messy when he wanted to help cream himself. As you’d expect, it’s fragrance-free and isn’t sticky so we get Cameo dressed straight away. The only major difference is that the ointment can go in the bath and can be used as a skin cleanser. We used this when Cameos was really little and had really bad, dry skin. It worked well and now we can get away with just using this when his eczema really flares up. But on a day to day basis we use the cream.

How We Improved Our Toddlers Ezcema #OneTwoFreeYourSkin

It’s pretty obvious that Epaderm is a winner for us, isn’t it?. We use it every evening after bathtime, It’s become a part of our bedtime routine.  It works much better at night time because it has time to work while Cameo sleeps, instead of itching or rubbing etc. We probably use a bit more than we should because Cameo likes to get involved now and we even have a little song. I think by making it part of our routine and by making it fun and letting Cameo cream himself, it’s turned it into a game. Only today I was putting my foundation on and he went running around the house shouting MAMA CREAMING! It was hilarious! He is so used to being creamed now that whenever he sees someone putting something on their skin he’ll shout CREAMING! Bless him.

The things that helped us with controlling Cameo’s eczema are really simple to remember. We originally creamed him after every nappy change to keep the skin moisturised. Over time it has improved greatly. As I said above we just apply a generous amount all over his body at bedtime. If we notice a flare up, or if he has been playing in grass etc (which we know is a trigger for him) we’ll apply more throughout the day. If you’re not sure what makes your or your little one’s eczema or skin condition worse, Epaderm has a great tracker that could help you look a little more thoroughly at what it could be. You can find the tracker here. We did something like this which is why we realised grass and water were our main triggers for making his skin worse.

I’d always recommend Epaderm. We also have a 10 week old and even though he isn’t showing signs of dry skin or eczema just yet, we’re still using Epaderm on him after his bath. As I said, when you trust a brand that’s really helped your little one, you’ll always use it.

You can buy Epaderm from Amazon, Tesco, Boots, Superdrug and other high street chemists. Find out more about other peoples experience with Epaderm by using #OneTwoFreeYourSkin.

 

*This post is part of an Epaderm competition. Everything I’ve said in this post is our true experience and opinion. 

 

 

 

 

Beauty Tips To Look Less Tired

I can’t even tell you how tired I am 95% of the time. With two kids under two getting any sleep is a bit of a miracle. What has been rather nice is that people have said I still look refreshed. I try not to laugh in their face, because you know, a compliment is a compliment. But I feel like I’m sleepwalking most of the time. I’m sure this is normal for mums. I mean when I was a teenager I could function normally on a couple of hours rest, let alone sleep.  These days I definitely give myself a little help when I’m out an about. Especially with makeup! That’s what it’s there for right? So, here are my beauty tips on how to look less tired than you feel.

Eye Creams

I’ve been trying to find the best eye cream for dark circles.  It’s all about experimenting to find what works best for you. So far it’s really helped in reducing those tired bags from under my eyes. There are loads available so it’s all about finding one that works for your skin tone. Using an eye cream is the foundation of any makeup routine to help you look bright and awake. It’s a great way of helping to repair the skin too. When you’re lacking in sleep your skin needs some TLC and using a daily eye cream is just the thing.

Bright Lip

I love a bright lip, tired or not! But it definitely helps draw attention to the mouth and away from tired eyes or dull skin. A lovely bright lip colour makes the face pop and brightens it up a bit. Stick one in your bag and apply it whenever you need a pick me up. I always opt for a red or coral. But any colour that catches your eye will do the trick.

Glow-Up

Add a skin illuminator or highlighter into your foundation. Just a few drops. You don’t want to look like a disco ball! By adding a drop or two to your normal foundation it will help give your skin a natural dewy glow with no extra time needed. This is the perfect way to stay your day looking fresh, even if you don’t feel it.

White Eyeliner

Don’t freak out! I’m not saying to apply a wing or anything like that! But adding a subtle white line as eyeliner will make your eyes look bright and awake. It won’t let you get away with sleeping at your desk but it will help with the day after the night before look.

Hydrating Mist

This is one of my absolute favourite things to use on a daily basis. A hydrating mist spray is perfect for everything from refreshing the face, set makeup and even to cool you down during the warmer weather. A spray of hydrating mist will instantly plump up the skin and keep that dewy look going throughout the day. It’s easy to do and takes 1 second. Winning!

What tips do you have to help beat that tiredness look? Obviously, more sleep should be number one, but we all know that’s almost impossible! Let me know in the comments below.

Beauty Tips And Tricks Every Mum Should Know

Let’s be honest. When you become a mum, any kind of ‘me time’ is almost non-existent. Put it this way. I put makeup on the other day and I’m sure my 20-month-old son didn’t recognise me! But it’s important that we find time to treat ourselves and make ourselves feel good. We can easily forget about ourselves when little ones and families are so demanding. So here are my beauty tips and tricks every mum should know. Because we’re all in it together right?

  1. Fake it

Ok, so let’s just throw it out there and say there is nothing wrong with faking it. Finding yourself a semi permanent makeup professional could be the time-saving trick you need. Think high definition brows, and a blush lip, without you even having to lift a finger. That’s the ‘just got out of bed’ look I don’t mind having. It’s all about doing what makes you feel good. For me, having my eyebrows neat and tidy is the one thing that makes me feel like I’ve got myself together.

  1. Gel Nails

If, like me, you hate having naked nails then always opt for gel polish. Whether you do it at home or in a salon. Gel polish is long lasting and is less likely to chip. There’s no point in using basic polish. After 2 baby baths, it’s almost gone and there’s nothing like chipped nail polish to make me feel rough around the edges.

  1. Dry Shampoo is your friend

So we all know that dry shampoo helps to get an extra day out of unwashed hair. But the best way to use it is to apply it before you go to bed. Yes! Put it on your roots at night, keep your hair down and in the morning your tossing and turning will turn your locks into clean looking super on trend bed hair! Winner!

  1. Easy Wave

If you need something doing with your hair in super quick time, this is my favourite trick. Brais dry hair into pigtails and run your straighteners over them a few times. It sounds crazy but it works. Leave the braids to cool down for a few seconds and then undo. Tada – wavy hair in a flash.

  1. Triangle Bags

We all need a little concealer under them tired eyes. It’s a mummy must have. But the secret for really helping those dark circles is to draw a triangle shape under the eye to brighten the area and not the usually curved stroke. It makes a massive difference and can make you look less tired in a second. Pass me the concealer now! If you need help getting your little one to sleep through the night this is a great article to read.

Those 5 tips should help you feel a little more you and a little less Mama, Mama, Mama! (As soon as they can say Mama they just don’t stop do they!) I wish you well on your beauty journey. If you have any time-saving tips and tricks then let me know in the comments below.

How To Stop Boob Chafing & Other Things

Summer is almost over… (booooo!) but I can’t lie, I’m SO happy that the heatwave is over. I struggled with that heat while I was pregnant! If you read my post over here – one thing I didn’t have to struggle with was chub rub. Thanks to iRELIEF from iVYVERDURE I had a little relief from my thighs rubbing during the hot weather and I actually got to enjoy some of my maxi dresses without having to wear shorts. Hooray!

Well, now I’m coming at you from a mothers perspective. I’ve just had my second son (yep – 2 under 2 I must be crazy) and I’m using iVYVERDURE slightly differently now. I mean your body changes A LOT while you’re pregnant. Trust me. So it only makes sense that how I use some of my favourite skincare products changes too.

How To Stop Boob Chafing & Other Things

First up, let’s just say it how it is shall we? The underboob! Yes! When I was pregnant my breasts naturally swelled up. Some may think this is a good thing. However, I can’t say it was the best thing I’ve ever experienced. Not only are they tender and ache constantly, but the underboob soreness is real. I’ve only ever had this once before and that when I was pregnant with Cameo. But this time I came prepared! I applied iVYVERDURE underneath my boobs after the shower in the morning before putting my bra on (if I wore one – I know I should but it was so uncomfortable when I was pregnant!) I’d also reapply if I changed during the day or if I was just about to do something that might get me a little hot and sweaty.

If you haven’t read my previous post, iRELIEF from iVYVERDURE is a 100% vegan and organic anti-chafing stick that prevents chafing and blisters. It can be used on all sensitive areas that are exposed to friction. It’s an all-in-one stick that can be used against all forms of chafing.

iRELIEF from iVYVERDURE

It’s really quite cooling on the application and feels like a soft balm that turns matte. It isn’t sticky or wet so it’s really comfortable. You do need to keep reapplying but it’s no hardship. You can just do it when you pop to the loo. It takes a couple of seconds and the twist applicator tub is small enough to fit in a pocket or bag. Simple.

I said this before and I’ll say it again, iVYVERDURE can be used for SO much on the body.

  • It’s an epic foot moisturiser (look after those feet during winter!)
  • Stretch marks. This won’t make them vanish but it will help with the soothing of the skin.
  • Thigh Chaffing
  • Underarms
  • Basically anywhere that rubs together!

If you want to give it a go but you’re still not sure, here’s a 15% off discount code across the iVYVERDURE site – just enter HOLLIE15 checkout!

 

 

 

Keep Your Locks Lush While Having Fun in The Sun!

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Summer is a time for fun; days out, beach holidays, barbeques with friends and so much more. It’s a time to get outside, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the company of the ones we love. But as with all seasons, summer throws up some problems when it comes to our beauty regimes and it can be particularly damaging to our skin and hair. We all know the importance of using SPF on our skin, but what can we do to protect our hair? Here are a few ideas.

 

Spray through heat protectant

Hopefully, you will already be in the habit of using a heat protectant before blow drying or heat styling your hair. But did you know this is also useful for protecting it against the heat of the sun? Spray it all the way through your hair a few minutes before you go outside and you give it much more of a fighting chance against the sizzling sun.

 

Wear a sun hat

One of the best ways that you can protect your hair as well as your scalp (which can be prone to burning since you can’t really apply SPF) is to wear a sun hat. You can find lovely summer hats at this time of year so shop around and find something that suits you. If you go with a floppy hat with a wide brim, not only will you look ultra chic but you’ll shade your face and eyes from the sun too.

 

Deep condition

We all know far too well how dry and damaged hair feels when we’ve spent too long in the sun. As well as trying to protect it in the first place, we want to aim to replenish it as much as possible. One way to do this is by deep conditioning, try out a couple of products and find one that you like and that works for you. You can buy masques and apply these after your shampoo and conditioner in the bath, leaving them on anywhere between five and twenty minutes. Other ways you can deep condition your hair is by applying coconut oil all the way through and leaving it on all day, or overnight as you sleep. Coconut oil unlike lots of other types of oils is able to penetrate the hair shaft meaning it can add moisture back in. When you wash it out the next day your hair will be left shiny and soft.


Have a trim

The problem with split ends is that the break travels all the way up the hair shaft making hair weak and often splitting off much higher up than just the ends. If your hair is already very fine it can leave you looking like you don’t have much of it left! When your hair is already split, extra stress on it such as the heat of the sun and chlorinated water is going to make it so much worse. The best thing you can do is to have a proper trim, in some cases, this might mean having quite a bit chopped off. But rather it be a little shorter and healthy than longer and straggly and broken!