Do or DIY: Vinyl Record Storage Bowls

Record storage bowls are a really interesting and retro looking way to hold your bits and bobs, each design is completely unique and they can be created with high or low sides depending on what you're planning to store. Making these bowls is easy but does take a bit of a time, and you can use 7” EPs or 12” LPs depending on your spare space. This quick guide will show you how to make your own vinyl record storage bowl to store anything from kirby grips to lipsticks.

I've got a lot of records hanging around at home from when we had a record player and decks, but they’re easy to pick up from a charity shop for well under a pound. If you can, try and find one with a label colour that suits your room décor or even some coloured vinyl if you come across it. I'm going to be using this clear one below; I love Bloc Party but this record never played well, maybe it took a knock on the way back from Virgin, but either way I'm trying to downsize my collection as I don't have a player at the moment and am only really keeping classics or limited editions.

As well as your record you'll need a large bowl, a kettle full of boiling water and some tongs or possibly pliers at a push. You'll also want to be close to a sink so you can refill your kettle easily. I've tried a few different methods and I think this is the best- you have the most control over the final design of the bowls (even though they’re all a bit random) and you don't smell your house out with the scent of melting plastic.

Start by filling your bowl with just boiled water then dip your record in and submerge it with the tongs. It will start to bend and become floppy, it will be hot but not boiling once its pulled out the water for a few seconds, so you can begin to use your fingers to quickly start off a scalloped shape. Bend the edges of the record up and pinch together to create some waves.

The record will cool quickly and be less malleable so hold the area you want to bend under the water for about 30 seconds before having another go, the trick is to work as quick as you can and not let the already bent parts dip below the water or they'll go floppy again.

As the water cools a bit you'll be able to use your your tongs to press the record against the side of the bowl to create the shapes of the record sides while its under the water. If the record refuses to move then you'll need to top up with fresh boiled water.

The last bit is the trickiest and you'll need to press quite hard to get a shape but don’t give up because it will happen. If there are any areas you’re not very happy with you can pour boiling water just onto those parts over your bowl and quickly reshape (if you're having trouble getting out a kink you can try using something like a pencil to press against the side of the bowl).

Finally to get the base as flat as you can, pour hot water into your record bowl and then use the ridged edges to press it down against the table, you can also create higher or lower sides by pulling or pushing on them.

There we have our bowl done! Leave it to properly cool and the label to dry out then fill it with your loose bits and pieces. The label on mine really didn't like the water (this is the only one where bits have flaked off and also the most recently made that I've created a bowl out of, they don't make them like they used to eh?), I'm not too bothered as I wont be able to see much of the label when it's got things in but if the same happens to you, you can paint or embellish the label how you like, or even peel it off altogether.

I hope you found this guide interesting and useful, I'd love to see photos if you create your own record bowls!

Do or DIY: ACV Toner

While I do love beauty DIYs it isn't often I come across one that really knocks my socks off and I'd truly rather use than a similar shop bought product, but this really is one of those DIYs. I've in the past generally found toners pretty miss or miss- they either dry my skin out, don't do anything or in the case of exfoliating toners are too harsh for my skin and make it angry and sore.

When I tell you the ingredients you're going to be thoroughly underwhelmed and think it's not worth trying, as I thought at first as well, but as it's cheap as chips (literally) it's worth giving it a go because it might just become your new favourite toner. Since using this once or twice a day my skin has become much more balanced; not as oily in the Tzone and definitely not as dry and flaky around blemishes which I wasn't expecting. Because it's acidic it restores the natural ph balance of the skin and is lightly exfoliating without causing any sensitivity. I've been using it for at least 2 months so far and I've also found that my skin is more even and less red, blemishes and scars are lighter in colour.

Making ACV Toner

Ingredients:
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Water

Didn't I tell you you'd be underwhelmed? The easiness and cheapness of the recipe shouldn't put you off! The proper ingredient is organic vinegar but I couldn't find any and I think as long as the bottle contains The Mother, sometimes called Mother Of Vinegar, it should be fine. 
The Mother (what a weird alien-like thing to call it) is a collection of cobweb-like strands in the bottles of raw ACV and is made up from enzyme proteins, minerals and bacteria/yeast that give nutrition to the vinegar and are able to live because the vinegar is unpasteurized. You can see a photo of the Mother below, it doesn't look very inviting but it settles to the bottom of the bottle so you don't have to use it in your toner. 

I bought a bottle of vinegar with Mother for 84p for 350ml from Asda, for water I use Evian because its what I drink but any bottled or boiled water would be fine.
There are no set in stone ratio measurements for this recipe, which I think is good because you can personalise it to your skin- start off with a weak solution and make it stronger as time goes on if you need to. Research has told me that the usual starting point is between 1/4 and 1/3 ACV to water, moving up to 1/2 if needed and stopping at 2/3. You can use anything to measure the quantities into your bottle (holiday travel bottles are great if you don't have an empty one spare), I use fingers because it's quick with a clear bottle (as in 3 finger widths of ACV, move up by 3 finger widths and add water then move up again).

There you have your amazing ACV toner, sweep on with a cotton pad once or twice a day directly after cleansing and you should start to see some results within a week. The smell does take some getting used to but it doesn't linger for long on the skin, and because the vinegar is diluted it should be well tolerated as long as you avoid any broken skin (like spots you've popped, naughty!).


If you try out this recipe I'd love to know to know how you get on!

Do or DIY: Sugar Wax & Sugar Paste

Sugar Wax originates from the Middle East and is used in the same way as normal warm liquid wax- spread on and removed with a cloth strip. Sugar Paste is made in a very similar way but instead is used at room temperature- a ball of paste is warmed in the hand, spread across the skin and quickly flicked back with the fingers taking the hair with it. This method of removing hair is also known as Arabic Depilation or just 'Sugaring', and the method is easier to grasp when you've seen it demonstrated- this and this video shows you exactly what to do with the paste once you've made it.

Using sugar paste is slightly more comfortable than traditional waxes- waxes using a strip can pull at the skin making it sore and irritated, whereas the paste doesn't stick easily to the skin. Sugar paste can also be used on hair as short as 3mm although you'll need to have hair 6mm or longer for the wax. Another advantage of sugar paste is that you can go back over areas immediately to catch any stray hairs without over-irritating your skin. 

The ingredients for these waxes are cheap, super simple, and things you'll already have at home, making a liquid wax is really easy but if you're anything like me it might take a go or two to make the perfect paste for sugaring.
To make both types you'll need: a saucepan on the stove, normal granulated sugar, lemon juice (can be from a bottle) and water. Thats it! For the liquid wax you'll also need some cloth strips, if you don't have any spare you can make your own by cutting any unused cotton cloth you have such as an old t-shirt or pillowcase. The wax washes out really easily under warm water or in the washing machine so you can reuse the strips until they start to fray (like mine above!).

Making Sugar Wax
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup lemon juice 
Combine all ingredients in a pan and set on the stove on a low to medium heat. Stir the mixture while it starts to boil, and simmer it on a low heat for about 15-20 minutes. Keep your eye on it when it starts to change colour, it will turn to a yellowy amber but continue simmering until the mixture thickens slightly and becomes a brown amber. The colour of the first box in the second picture above is what you're aiming for and it will look darker in the saucepan than it actually is so don't be tempted to remove it from the heat too soon- the wax will be too sticky to work with and you'll have to return it to the pan. Once you've hit the right colour, turn off the stove and leave to cool for about 10 minutes before pouring into your storage container. I like to use plastic boxes such as microwavable take-away containers but you can also use a clean jar to store the wax, just make sure that it has an air tight lid.

Using Sugar Wax
To use your wax, heat the whole container in the microwave for about 2 minutes or until your its comfortably hot and a gel consistency- test a small drop on the inside of your wrist before attempting to use it as you don't want any burns! Make sure the area to be waxed is clean and dry, and use a light dusting of baby powder or corn flour to absorb any oils and stop the wax sticking to the skin. To spread the wax in a thin layer over the skin I use wooden ice lolly sticks, a clean butter knife also works well and you need to spread against the hair growth. Stick your cloth strip to the wax and smooth down in the direction of the hair, then it pull back on itself quickly in the opposite direction. Press your hand down on the area for a few seconds to calm any pain, and you should be nice and smooth! The cloth strips can be used immediately again two or three times before they lose effectiveness and need to be washed.

Wax Problems
Is the wax too hard and thick? Place a tablespoon of water on top of the wax before microwaving, you might need more than one tablespoon if the wax is very hard. If it set solid like a boiled sweet after it was cooled, unfortunately you'll have to start the process again.
Is the wax too thin? Place it back in a saucepan and cook gently for a few more minutes, make sure it's an amber colour before removing from the heat.

Making Sugar Paste
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons sugar
The method to making the paste is exactly the same as above but it needs to be heated for longer to get a darker colour, more of a red amber like the third picture above. The key is to not get impatient (like me) and turn the heat up to get the colour, the mixture needs to be simmered on a low heat for the right consistency.

Using Sugar Paste
Don't worry if the paste seems a bit too thick to scoop out when its cooled, you can put it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or leave it on your radiator to warm up a bit so its easier to use. Basically you are using your fingers to both spread and remove the paste, the best way of understanding how to use the paste is to watch the videos above, I was a bit confused when I first heard of it but searching for a couple of videos cleared up exactly what to do. You can use any size ball of paste, from small for your bikini area to big for your legs, and you want to make sure the area is clean is dry before starting but you don't need to powder. The paste is best applied against the hair growth and pulled back in the opposite direction. Sugar paste will turn a milky colour when it's being used or worked in your hands, and you'll know when you need a new ball because it'll turn thin and sticky, like chewing gum when you've chewed it for too long. 

Using these recipes is a really inexpensive alternative to buying home waxing kits. I don't use waxes that often but I do find the paste especially useful to have in the cupboard as it needs barely any prep, no extra equipment and gives really good results. 

Would you consider switching to home made sugar waxes?

Do or DIY: 2-in-1 Charcoal Facemask

I'm going to start off this beauty DIY series with the 2-in-1 Charcoal congestion busting & exfoliating face mask. 

I've tried lots of DIY facemasks over the years and only the best have stuck. When I was still at school it was like a little Sunday morning ritual for me to watch Castaway (anyone remember Castaway? Is it still on??) and slather on a homemade facemask. It might've been the lovely glowy skin that comes from living on a desert island seeping into my subconscious, but a good little facemask was the closest I was getting to a sandy beach and sun sun sun!

Now, this isn't the kind of charcoal you put on your barbecue, but big pills (or capsules) you can buy from the chemist or online for about £4 for 100. This is activated charcoal and it has a huge surface area (one teaspoon has a surface area of more than 10,000 ft) that can absorb up to 10 times its own weight and size in chemicals and toxins. Activated charcoal is one of the main treatments for poisoning in pets and humans, and I've actually found its a brilliant hangover preventer if you take a few pills with lots of water before bed!

For the mask you'll need:

- 3 or 4 Charcoal Pills or Capsules

- 1 teaspoon water

as the charcoal is our main ingredient you can mix it with a variety of other ingredients eg-

- 1 Aspirin tablet 

- Tea Tree gel to tone down blemishes  or

- A couple of drops of Glycerine for hydration

The mask above was made with Glycerine and and an Aspirin tablet, my skin has been congested but also quite dry recently so this is the combination I chose. To make your mask, first open the capsules or crush your tablets. The easiest way to crush them is between two teaspoons over your mixing container. The charcoal won't dissolve so you want to make sure you crush it the best you can, as well as drawing out toxins and congestion it will exfoliate the skin so you don't want it too gritty. Next add in the rest of the ingredients and mix well, I added just a teaspoon of water to wet the mixture and a couple of drops of glycerine to hold the hydration onto my skin.

You can put this straight onto clean skin but I like to steam my face for a few minutes first to help it get right into the pores. Also, don't wear white! The mixture is liquid and although it shouldn't be drippy it does get a bit messy to take off.

Apply the mask onto your face with a brush or fingers and let it sit for 5 -10 minutes until it dries, its very very black so don't get it too close to your nostrils or you'll have dark snot for a while after! Once its dry take a wet flannel, muslin cloth, cotton pad (or you can just use your fingers) to remove the mask, this is where the exfoliation comes in and you can massage very gently in small circles on any congested or flaky patches to make your skin super soft.

Once its all washed off your skin should be smooth and completely clean! Because this is a detoxing mask it can bring congestion to the surface so will speed up any breakouts you have and you might notice a few blocked pores unblocking themselves in the next day or two. I like to use this mask at night and follow with a good thick night cream to prolong the smoothness.

Let me know if you try this mask, or have any great DIY recipes yourself!

Do or DIY: Magnetic Palette, Depotting & How to Fix Broken Powders

Buying an empty magnetic can cost you quite a bit, they range from about £15 up past £20, and none of the ones I've seen are as big as I would've liked them to be.
Fancying a bit of DIY and not having very much money, I decided to make a couple of my own magnetic palettes to hold single shadows and shadows from small palettes.

The end result is on the outside quite similar to the original mac magnetic palettes, that signature rubberised plastic, hard opaque exterior and tightly snapping clasp. The similarities end on the inside though as my palette can hold all manner of pan shapes and sizes so I can see all my single/small shadows in one place and use them more often without having to find them first!

And the best bit? This palette cost less than £9 to make, with enough materials left to make a hand bag travel size palette as well. Click below to find out how to make your own magnetic palette.

I'm going to start off with how to make a magnetic palette, then move on to the depotting so you have something to put in it!

For the Palette:
-An empty palette, or one with the inner bits to hold the pans taken out. I bought one very similar to this one from Ebay.
-A self adhesive magnetic sheet. These need to have a reasonably strong magnetic pull, I bought this one in size A4 which was plenty for my palette and to use on the bottom of pans. (Self adhesive is not essential, it just means you'll be able to stick the magnets quickly & easily to the pans).
-Some WD40
-A Pencil and Scissors
-Glue (PVA is fine)

1. First you need to remove anything that's already there to hold the pans inside your palette. The palette I bought had a flimsy plastic interior that took a bit of prying and leverage to get off the base.
2. Next you need to remove any glue that's left on the bottom of your palette, this is what the WD40 is for- it takes a bit of rubbing (use an old cloth or sponge) but makes it really easy to get the glue off.
3. Then you need to measure round your palette onto the magnetic sheet. Make sure to measure accurately and remember to mark out any clasps etc that may change the shape of the inside of your palette. Mark this onto the magnetic sheet and then cut out, its always better to go a little bigger and cut bits off instead of going too small in the beginning.
4. Check you've got the size and shape right by placing the sheet into the palette, it should be a tight fit to avoid powder from slipping down cracks and being impossible to clean out. Then cover the inside base of the palette with glue, right up to the edges. We're using glue and the sheet's self adhesive to make sure it really sticks- there would be nothing worse than the sheet coming loose and all your powders smashing.
5. Finally, remove the backing to the magnetic sheet and place over the glue, making sure to press down firmly.

Now you have your palette made, you need something to put in it! You ll find lots of pan depotting guides on youtube etc but this is the method I used, and some little tricks that worked for me. You might find that once you've depotted them some pans are already magnetic which is great and will save time on the last step of the palette, the ones of mine that turned out to be magnetic were by Rimmel, Borjouis and Loreal.

This is a shadow I made by crushing light coloured bronzing pearls and pressing into an empty depotted pan, as detailed below. 

A Quick Guide to Depotting:
You'll need
- Hair Straighteners, mine are pretty old, any will do
- A small square of Tin Foil just to protect the straightener
- A pair of Tweezers and a Needle or Thick pin
- A pair of Scissors

1. First gather all the shadows, blushers, bronzers etc you want to depot and take the inner pan holder out of the outer palette. Its not the end of the world if it wont come out but it will make depotting a lot quicker.
2. Next turn your straighteners so one of the plates is facing upwards and place the tin foil on the plate. Once the straighteners have reached temperature, place a powder you want to depot onto the plate, pan holder against the tin foil. If your pan holder is holding more than one shadow then depot in sections according to how much you can fit on your straightener plate.
3. Be patient, it might take quite a while for the straightener to melt the glue holding the pot down, and you might find the plastic melts before the glue does (this is what the tin foil is for). Don't be alarmed if it starts to smell, this is just the plastic.
4. After 5-6 minutes test your pan- hold the plastic pan holder by the edges as it will be hot and use the tweezers to get down a gap between the pan and holder, and try to pull the pan out. You might find that some come out really easily and others take a lot of work even when they've been on the straighteners for a long time. Be careful with this step as you don't want to break your shadow! If you cant find a gap that will fit your tweezers down or you're having difficulty prising the pan out, use the needle (This worked best for me, and prevented the pans bending too much). 
5. Once you get the pan out remember that its metal and very hot!! use your tweezers, or if its too big use the scissors, to place it onto a surface out the way. Use a tissue or toilet paper to prevent the melted glue sticking.
6. Once the pan has cooled enough to hold, use the tweezers to pick off as much glue as you can from the bottom of the pan. This will help it to sit flat in the palette.

Help Ive Broken a Powder!

You might find that your pan flicks out suddenly and your powder shatters, or the metal of your pan might bend as you're removing it and half the powder breaks. You don't have to throw these away or lose half your powder:

-Crush up all the powder in the pan (trust me) until there are no lumps.
-Mix in a few drops of surgical alcohol (Ive used absinthe in a pinch but drinking alcohol doesn't evaporate as quickly and leaves an odd smell).
-Mix until all the powder is incorporated then find an object a bit smaller than your pan, cover with a folded tissue and press down hard. Keep moving the tissue to soak up as much of the liquid as you can make sure every part of the pan has been pressed down firmly.
-Then leave to dry and your powder will be good as new!

You can buy various sized magnetics to put on the bottom of your newly depotted pans but I think using the magnetic sheet is fine as it holds well and you can cut it to size.
Cut it down and place on the bottom of your pans along with a sticker telling you whats in the pan- brand, colour, and the palette it came from.
Most magnetic sheets are polarised in thin lines so you might need to spin the pan to get it to hold, but once you get it the right way round it'll snap into place and be held well. Ive taken my palette around in my handbag (which I like to chuck about) and have had no casualties so far.

I hope you found this quick guide interesting, I'm so pleased with my palette. I have a little empty ELF palette left over that didn't melt badly which will be perfect to make into a tiny handbag palette and useful as most of my favourite shadows are now magnetic!

My Favourite Natural Beauty DIYs

There's something really satisfying about making a DIY recipe and seeing results afterwards. Ive always been a fan of homemade face masks but since becoming allergic to normal shampoo about 6 months ago Ive been trying out a lot of beauty recipes in a bit of an effort to reduce the amount of chemicals and nasties I put on my skin. Below are my favourites, some found from research and some reinvented by me. I'm no skin expert/pharmacist though so if you have a concern about using an ingredient then I'd advise just to skip that DIY!

Calming, Smoothing and Brightening Mask
Mix 2 tbsp Natural Oats with 4 tbsp water and microwave for approx 30 seconds until the oats become soft and soak up the water, add 1 tsp Honey, one mashed Banana and a couple of drops of Glycerine (available in the cake decorating section of the supermarket or from a chemist). Optionally you can also add a few drops of Tea Tree Oil to calm any blemishes.
I also like to add in 2 tsp of Engevita flakes. These are used as a condiment to add a savoury mushroomy flavour to food but are full of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients including high levels of Vitamin B which is brilliant for the skin! (Freederm acne gel is made from a form of Vitamin B).
Smear on your face, I would lean over a sink as the mixture is a bit lumpy, and wait for about 20 minutes or so until it dries (avoid mirrors so you don't give yourself a fright) then rinse off. Your skin will feel soft, glowy and toned without being tight.

After Makeup Spray
Mix a few drops of Glycerine with bottled water in a spray bottle to make a spray that takes away the powdery look of face powder, and can be used before make up to moisturise the skin (I haven't tried the second as my skin needs mattifying more than moisturising).

Mattifying Primer
For oily skin Milk of Magnesia (available from a chemist, I use Magnesium Oxide and water which is the same) will mattify the skin and keep it oil free under foundation. The mixture, especially if you're using magnesium oxide, will need to be shaken well as it separates when left to stand. Don't worry if you look a bit ghostly before your foundation goes on but If I apply too much I remove the excess with a powder brush.

Clarifying Shampoo
Use Bicarbonate of Soda to wash away hair product build up. Mix approx 3 tsp with your usual shampoo for a clarifying effect. Ive used this DIY a lot since becoming allergic to shampoo, I haven't yet found out the exact ingredient I'm allergic to so have stuck with a basic one that leaves my hair a bit dull. I flip my head over and make sure to get right in at the roots!

Sheer Coconut Lipgloss
Mix a powder blush or eyeshadow you're not likely to wear (I use bright pink eyeshadows) with Coconut Oil to create a sheer shiny gloss with moisturising properties and a coconut taste. I don't measure each out so its easier to start with a little of the oil and powder and keep adding more of each until you have the amount and consistency you like. The oil is solid at room temperature so the gloss can be kept in a pot or tin like lip balm but quickly melts to a moisturising shine in contact with body temperature. The oil stays glossy on the lips but once it has soaked in still leaves a light wash of colour that wont sink into cracks.
The gloss in the bottom right picture above was made with a light pink eyeshadow that had a touch of shimmer, it was a cheapy but works really well as a coconut gloss!

Quick Tooth Whitening
Use Bicarbonate of Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) to brush teeth for instant whitening. Dip toothbrush in the powder, add a little toothpaste and brush, you'll see the results straight afterwards! This is an abrasive way to whiten the teeth so shouldn't be used often and not at all if you have sore or sensitive gums.

Body and Self Tanning Oil
Make a DIY body oil by mixing virgin Coconut Oil with 1/4 virgin Olive Oil and a drop or two of your favourite essential oil. The olive oil stops the coconut oil from solidifying at room temperature and the coconut oil is easily absorbed to leave skin silky smooth.
This mixture is great for legs and dry areas like elbows, also works really well as a barrier on ankles, knees and elbows when self tanning to avoid the product clinging and becoming too dark. My right elbow for some reason turns very dark when I use tanning products but this oil works as the perfect barrier, the trick is to not rub it in completely.


Id love to know your favourite DIY beauty recipes, please tell me in the comments!