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DIY - Skin brightening treatment

I love making my own Masks and Scrubs from home. There's something so fulfilling about making your own Skincare treatments.
I've made something similar to this before but it works so well for me that I felt the need to share with you. I suffer from really dry skin and I've also mentioned before how my arms tan more than the rest of my body resulting in uneven skin tone. This scrub is great for evening skin tone and adding moisture to the skin. So far, I've only been using this on my arms.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of Rice ( Rice is great for fading blemishes and brightening skin)
A pinch of turmeric ( Good for fading blemishes, reducing wrinkles and acne )
2 tbsp. FULL FAT Milk or Yoghurt (Moisturising & Nourishing)
A drop of Almond oil (Moisturising, Reducing dark circles & stretch marks, Sun protection)
(You may need to add more or less to get the correct consistency)

Instructions:
I've been using mine as a Scrub so I've been grinding Rice in the food processor leaving small bits to exfoliate the skin - If you want to make a mask..blitz the Rice for longer.
Add all Ingredients into a container. & mix well.
FYI - Applying this scrub can get super messy as the Rice gets everywhere!! I always apply this over a sink or in the Bath.
 If you are using it to exfoliate, rub into the skin for a few minutes and leave on for 5 minutes then wash off ;-) I do this twice a week and love what it does for my dry skin.
ENJOY!
Lotsa love Leesh of UnLeeshd x x x

NEW Make-Up Organiser

When I moved to the U.S. I packed my make up into THREE old make up bags as well a large carrier bag. My old MUJI storage didn't fit into any of my suitcases so I left it at home.
My intention was to buy a much bigger and deeper set of drawers, however I came across this one..
 
 
I gave my Husband a headache when choosing my Make-up organiser..
IT'S A BIG DECISION!!
When seeing this one, I was still umming and arrring as I didn't think it would look as neat and tidy as a set of drawers.
Since my make-up was taking over the whole Bathroom unit, I decided to just buy it.. and GUESS WHAT? I actually like it.
 
 
 
It spins around and actually doesn't look as untidy as I originally thought it would. I paid just under $30 for this which works out at around £19. REALLY!!?
You can't go wrong for just under 20 quid. I fit all of my make-up on it and it still has space for MORE!! ;-)
 
Luckily, my bathroom unit came with some drawers so I've used one for all of my make-up palettes. I left quite a few back in the U.K. this is probably half of the palettes I own.. oopsie.

 
I purchased this from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I believe these are actually really easy to buy from Amazon too!
 
Lotsa love Leesh of UnLeeshd x x x
 

Fashion Icon of the Month - FARYAL MAKHDOOM

Firstly.. Can I just say that ever since I heard FARYAL's name.. I've always said it would be a lovely name for a Baby Girl. In some languages, Faryal means Angel. Its such a beautiful name.

OK.. Baby names aside ( and NO I'm most definitely not expecting lol
I recently found Faryal Makhdoom on Instagram and thought.. 
"Woah! This girl knows how to dress!" She posted a photo of a Valentino Bag and shoes and I literally went to Designer shoe HEAVEN! While I'm here in the States, my mission is to leave here with a nice Designer pair of shoes.. or a bag.. or both ;-)

No more words now. Just pictures of some of Faryal's best outfits.. I've left my best one till last.







Enough said.
Lotsa love Leesh of UnLeeshd x x x

The Importance of a Smear/Pap Test - Let's get to this!



I'll be completely honest with you in this post as I think this topic is so so important. Knowing how important it is, I still took a year to actually pluck up the courage and book it. I just hate visiting the nurse, probably because I had quite a few blood tests growing up! UGH!
My letter came through a month or so before turning 25. I'm almost 26, I had mine done just 2 months ago. I kid you not, the Doctors surgery sent me around 10 letters and I threw each and every single one away. How ignorant? How silly?
I guess I was just scared that they'd find something. I read about this topic a lot in the Media, and even though the message was always to get it out of the way so if there was anything to be concerned about, they could treat it quickly, I still chose to be stubborn.

I had a bunch of friends who had worrying experiences as well as friends who were completely fine. I guess I just expected the worse.
I finally booked it.. the day had come. I was in there for all of 5 minutes for the Nurse to take the swab and check my cervix out. I won't lie, I was slightly uncomfortable but the moment you just breathe and relax, you don't feel a thing! The nurse was so lovely, she kept me talking so it took my mind off it. 
I was lucky enough to have a normal result. All that worrying for nothing! I will have my next one at the age of 28. Smear tests are done from the age of 25-64.
You might be thinking, OK Alisha.. too much info now! But it is so important to cause awareness of this subject.

I had a few lady friends of mine write a little something on their experiences just to show you how different everyone's experience can be and how important it is to attend the appointment.

"My first smear test was in October 2013 after I had put it off for months - my results came back stating that there were abnormal cells in my cervix.
November 2013 - I had 2 biopsies taken and I recieved my results in Jan 2014.
It came back that I had CIN2 precancerous cells. As I was getting married in the April, they booked me for a LLETZ treatment at the end of January - not a particularly pleasant experience. I had a follow up smear in August 2014 and was given the all clear completely. It is now July 2015 and I am pregnant with my first child. At 16 weeks I was monitored under the hospital for checks on my cervix to make sure that it didn't open early as this can potentially be a problem having the LLETZ treatment. I was given the all clear and so far have had a dream of a pregnancy, I get to meet my little one in August as sometimes i do think would it have affected the baby or would i be in a worse state now if i had ignored it. For the sake of a 2 second swab, its totally worth getting checked out." - Melissa


"I always dreaded the day I had to go for my first smear, I was so nervous about it. However when I got there the nurse could see How nervous I was and explained the procedure to me and kept me relaxed throughout. She chatted the whole way through and kept me distracted and it was over in seconds.. I barely even noticed what was happening! Yes the thought of it is horrible, but it could detect a problem and ultimately save your life." - Roxanne

"I had my first smear test during a routine appointment with my family planning nurse and the procedure took a grand total of 5 minutes if that! When my results came back, it had been discovered that there was a small abnormality on my cervix caused by the HPV Infection (the one they now vaccinate girls for at school). Due to the HPV infection, I was referred to my local hospital for a procedure called a colposcopy, basically a closer look at my cervix! I had a small biopsy taken, the results came back all clear and I didn't have to have a smear for another 3 years! 
Don't let your fear of what your doctor is going to think of 'down there' put you off booking an appointment! It is something that they have to do everyday, they are not there to judge, they are just there to take a swab and that's it! It's always better to have your mind at rest than to never know " - Laura


GO GET YOUR LADY AREA CHECKED OUT!!
Lotsa love Leesh of UnLeeshd x x x 

U S of A - WE ARE FINALLY HERE!!

"Oh hey y'all!" Ha! OK.. No-one actually speaks like that here, I should stop with my bad accents! How are you all?
I've been out here for 2 weeks now and as bad as it sounds.. I DO NOT MISS HOME.
 If you follow me on Instagram, you'd have probably already seen some of the things my Husband and I have been up to.
When people go travelling and say you haven't LIVED unless you've lived in another country, they are so right.
I live right by the Harbour, in the Downtown area. The view from my balcony is half City and half Water. In my 25 years, I have never felt so at peace. The view is just spectacular, especially at night.
I am baffled and quite annoyed at myself actually that had this opportunity not been offered to us, I would never had experienced what I'm experiencing now.
I will learn so much from my time out here, that much I know for sure.
Anyone that REALLY knows me, knows that I am a very routine girl. I liked living in a small town, where everyone knew each other. I liked that my family lived so close by. Never did I think I'd adapt to this life.. THE CITY LIFE!
 
I guess this is just a little post to get you all thinking about doing something different, even if its out of your comfort zone. Believe me, I was having actual panic attacks weeks before I came here, I cried most days that I'd be far away from home. Now that I'm actually here all I feel is happiness.
 
 
We should all seize the day, unfortunately, we all say things like this then never put it into action. At a push, I've done it.. so can YOU.
Today my Husband told me that someone he knew passed away from a heart attack, completely healthy, just married, out of the blue. I feel so sad even though I didn't know him. You just never know what life has planned for you. LIVE YOUR LIFE.
 
Lotsa love Leesh of UnLeeshd x x x