Christmas, forest walks, mouldy houses and my favourite well-priced cleanser.

Here's hoping everyone has a lovely holiday season!

Our very late and very minimal Christmas 2023 tree!

We are just moments, ok days, away from Christmas and I still haven’t put up my tree yet. Yes, I have it. Yes, it’s sitting in water. But also…yes, it’s still has that mesh around it. Firstly, I want to say I’m not feeling Christmassy, and frankly haven’t in the last few years. I think the reality is that in my mind, Christmas is about family and being with those you love. Both of my children are back adulting in America so I won’t see them this Christmas. Without them around, it just feels weird. And to add insult to injury, our Christmas decorations are in a storage unit back in London. Something we just figured out TODAY! We found some lights and I bought a few bobbles so the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree shall erect this evening. Picture inevitably below. Also, I’m whining. I am going to spend Christmas with my glorious husband, my child by deep love Jammy (who by the way plays Kristoff in Frozen, so if you see him give a big hug afterward and say “Mama bear loves you”)….and our two wonderful hounds Ava and Cosmo. I am genuinely blessed.

The real reason I haven’t put up the Christmas tree is because I didn’t know where I’ll be spending Christmas. We live in this glorious mansion house…albeit in a wee little flat. Unfortunately this beautiful wee little flat has a huge mould problem….which has not made my breathing problems any better. The building has opened up another flat (a bit bigger and without mould) so we are just waiting to hear if the building regs people have signed off on it…as in, is everything sound and working? It’s is nearly 6 pm on Friday as I write this, and we still don’t know. Fingers Crossed. Strike that….it is now Saturday evening and we have learned that it just isn’t going to happen until the new year. Nick is back in our bedroom where the mould is the worst, de-moulding…something he has to do daily, otherwise I can’t breathe in our room. My vocal chords literally slam close and I start making dreadful noises. Not very attractive. The new flat has no mould (that we know of) but also a wood burning stove. It would have been grand for Christmas….but alas I am complaining about first world problems, though very excited about impending wood burning stove.

Now for skin: I am in the constant quest to find new products that I love. My need to truly test products before I recommend feels like a never ending process because I will test for at least a month, often many more before I can recommend. At the same time I will often purchase some for clients to test as well….to see how their skin responds. I can test on me until the cows come home but that only tells people how my skin responds, which to me, isn’t that helpful.

If you know anything about me you know that I love the brand Exuviance. I love them because, as discoverers - is that used properly - of AHA’s and PHA’s and whole lot of other skincare technology, they know how to formulate with PHA’s very well. Genius, I’d say. But they are going through some transitions and transitions are hard, so not placing blame….but, it’s hard to get your hands on some of their cult products. Not to mention, they are also discontinuing some of their most important products. It’s all very frustrating. I want to say this very loud…I still LOVE the brand very much, so my recommending other products is in no way saying anything other than, hey here’s some cool stuff to try.

A bit of research back story. I am trying to find ways to get the results of some of their cult products, without paying the higher prices for those of us where cost is an issue. As I move forward with this research I am combining certain lower cost products to see if I can create the same results. Again, not just for me, but the question is always….how does it work on many different skin types/issues. Watch this space as there is one combination I’m getting excited about but need to test further. 

This recommendation is not a combination, but just a real love. My absolute favourite cleanser in the world is Exuviance’s Gentle Creme Cleanser but it has been hard to get lately, so I’ve had to find some alternatives. I’ve tried quite a few, but the one that came out on top is LaRoche Posay’s Toleraine Cleansing Milk. I particularly like the larger size with a pump. It has a silkiness that is lovely, and it doesn’t have a fragrance….for those of us that can’t tolerate fragrance. My skin in particular can tolerate fragrance, by my breathing can’t….so I try to stay away.

Speaking of breathing problems, as mentioned above….Nick’s daily mould removal….I have tried numerous options at cleaning without causing more breathing problems. The regular cleaners care not grand for me and so we spent a few months using vinegar and water…which sadly also isn’t grand for the vocal chords. In the clinic, for the last year or so, we’ve used Purdy & Figg (not gifted and totally paid for…they haven’t a clue who I am) and I’ve loved it because it makes the clinic smell nice and for reasons I’m not quite sure, it doesn’t tend to set me off. It’s a win-win, so I’ve order some for home and it arrived today. Yay! Nick is back de-moulding, doing his thing. PS: my husband is a G. That man will go to great lengths every day to make sure I can breathe well. It’s astonishing. I’ve noticed they’ve done some big pushes on social….but I can attest to it being a superb and eco-friendly product.

Next week I’ll do a recap of our year and what we have planned in 2024, but I wanted to leave you with some videos (never mind, cannot seem to get videos uploaded on the platform today) of my favourite walk. We’ve discovered the back entrance to Bedgebury Forest is walking distance from our house. We try to do a two hour walk every morning with the dogs, and wow this place is meditation for the soul. I am definitely a forest person. Water calms me, but forests are the thing that brings me the most peace. Bedgebury has groves of Redwoods, Cypresses, and even some Giant Sequoia’s. The walks are everything to me…a moment of peace in a world of chaos.

Bedgebury National Pinetum (photo by me)

My hope for everyone is that you have a warm bed, food on the table and those you love around you. It’s been a tough time and whenever I am feeling down, I remind myself that I have a warm bed, food on the table and am surrounded by those I love.

Happy holidays and a big squishy hug from me,

Pam XXX