Reader letter of the week
*Dear Wendyl,
I’ve started getting eczema between my eyelids and eyebrows, which I don’t get anywhere else. I know that the skin around the eyes is extremely sensitive, so is there any gentle remedy I can use to calm the rash?
Jo*
Dear Jo,
You’re dead right about that area of skin being extremely sensitive. Two good ingredients to use that will calm the eczema, and also nourish your skin are oats and milk. Now bear with me, as this might make you feel like you’re making breakfast!
Pour some milk into a ¼ cup oats until it’s all nice and soggy.Apply to the affected area and leave for 10-15 minutes. While you’re at it, you can smear it all over your face if you want, as oats do wonders for the skin in general.
Rinse off and, if you feel it’s needed, apply a gentle moisturiser. I would opt for a bit of coconut oil here, as it’s quite light and also good for eczema.
If you find the whole affair a bit too messy, you can tie the oats up in a piece of muslin and secure with a hair tie. Soak the oat bag in a bowl of milk, then apply it to your eyes for relief.
Do you have a question or a tip for Wendyl? Email her at [email protected] with the subject line “Wendyl”.
Charcoal facial wash
I have been dying to share this recipe with the world – my daughter got me onto it and it’s my new favourite. You can get activated charcoal pills from the chemist or supermarket. They’re sold to help manage digestion and flatulence, but it turns out that charcoal is also brilliant for your skin! I use this face wash because it gives me a radiant glow, but it’s also great if you have problems with spots or blackheads.
6 charcoal pills
1 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp baking soda (this is for exfoliation, so you can lessen the amount for a gentler scrub or choose to skip it)
Essential oils
1 Break open the charcoal pills and pour the contents into a bowl – be careful as the powder can get everywhere. You might want to use a stain-resistant bowl.
2 Warm the coconut oil so it’s in its liquid state and pour it into the bowl with the charcoal. Add the baking soda and mix it all together. When it’s all combined, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil.
3 To use, smear it all over your face, leave for a minute or two, then rinse off with warm water. Follow up by wiping off any excess with a clean cloth.
Dog shampoo
I think dogs are at their best when they’re allowed to just be themselves, and I love seeing Rosie and Flo run around like crazy in the winter weather. But it does pose a bit of a problem when they track wet mud and strange smells through the house.
To deal with this, every now and then I treat them to a shampoo.
Bunch of fresh rosemary stalks (enough to stuff an old preserving jar – and remember to cut rosemary from the bottom of the stalk, not halfway up, for the sake of the plant)
Water (I use rain water), boiled 30ml liquid detergent (I like to use a liquid castile soap, such as Dr Bronner’s or use dishwashing liquid)
1 tsp glycerine (available from pharmacies and some supermarkets)
1/4 tsp lavender essential oil
1 Pack the jar tight with the rosemary stalks and pour in the boiling water. Seal and leave to steep overnight.
2 Pour 300ml of the rosemary liquid into a bottle. Add the detergent, glycerine and lavender oil, then give it a good shake. Pour liberally over your wet dog, lather up that pup, and rinse off.
Happy dog, happy you – and a nice smell for indoors!
Scotch Woodcock
This is a recipe from Arabella Boxer’s Book of English Food. It is not particularly Scottish and it does not require woodcock, but it is a tasty canapé with a tart finish.
20 anchovy fillets
2 cups milk
5 thick slices white bread
1 tbsp butter
8 eggs
¾ cup cream
Salt and pepper, to season
2 tbsp capers
Watercress and parsley, to garnish
1 Preheat oven to 200°C.
2 Soak the anchovy fillets in the milk.
3 Trim the crusts from the bread, butter both sides, then bake on a rack in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Cut in half.
4 Make scrambled eggs. Melt the butter in a saucepan on a medium heat, then break the eggs into it. Add the cream and stir constantly until the eggs are set. Season well.
5 Divide the scrambled eggs between the bread portions. Place two anchovies on top in an “X” shape.
6 Garnish with capers, watercress sprigs and chopped parsley.
Mattress cleaner
I love airing out our mattress in the sun, but that can be difficult in winter. As I can’t pop it outside as frequently as I do in summer, I clean it with the vacuum cleaner. I strip off the linen and give the mattress a big, old vacuum to dislodge any dust that has settled in it. This is also a great tip if you or someone in your household has a dust mite allergy.
Did you know
Toothpaste can be used to clean and whiten your nails. Just squirt a little on your hands and massage underneath your nails. The paste dislodges the dirt and will leave your nails looking nice and white. If they’re really dirty, you can also give the nail beds a scrubbing with an old toothbrush.
