Let’s get cosy!
With the weather how it is and most of us still confined to our homes, I thought I’d put together a little cosy guide to embracing all this extra time we have right now!
I’ve always, always been someone who loves taking the time to do some self-care, especially on a chilly evening. I’ll pop on a playlist, grab a fresh towel and pop my PJs on the radiator, then use all my favourite products in the shower before hopping in to bed. It’s those nights I find a bit of tranquility amongst all the busyness of my everyday life.
Christmas is always a crazy time for me – usually I travel a lot, I have double the amount of jobs on, and then there’s the added fun of my birthday in a week, and the homesickness of being away from my family and the grief that floods in knowing I’m about to face another Christmas without my mum. I know so many of you will be in a similar position, so this is a bit of escapism for anyone who needs to slow down and look after themselves right now.
At least one night a week I’ll take an hour in the evening to tune in to some feel-good songs (we have a bathroom speaker and it’s a game changer!), then I’ll go in with all the body scrubs, hair masks, body washes and cleansers until I feel like a new person! Afterwards, I’ll slather on a body cream, wrap myself in my fluffy robe and do a bit more pampering before bed.
I like to wind-down before bed, so often I’ll light a candle, get in to my PJs and read for a little while before I fall asleep. It’s such a chilled routine and it really helps to quieten my mind after a manic day!
On To The Products…
There’s so many staples I could list but I managed to narrow it down to a handful that I seem to get the most use out of. From my number one body butter to a sleepytime staple and the face serum I’ll never be without, here’s a few faves I can’t live without…
Elemis Sea Lavender & Samphire Bath & Shower Milk*
I worked with Elemis recently and one of the products I picked out was this absolutely delicious lavender-scented soak. I love that it can be used in the bath or shower, it’s an evening staple for me because I love the way it helps me to unwind before bed. It lathers up lovely, so perfect if you love a bubble bath!
Summmer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
I feel like this one speaks for itself, not only because of its cult status but because of the way I’ve squeezed the life out of the tube! I pop this on for ten or twenty minutes whenever I can – when I’m whitening my teeth, after my evening shower or as I get ready for bed. It’s plump, nourished, radiant skin in a tube.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum*
When I say I’m on my fourth bottle of this in about six months… I’m not exaggerating! This has saved my skin, it’s light enough not to break me out but quenching enough to give my complexion a dose of nourishment without feeling like it’s still parched. Plus, it works to brighten the skin overtime so I really do feel like it’s helped clear my complexion overall too. It’s pricey and I use it morning and night, so I’m hoping to find something to use in place of it for daily application and stick to slathering it on at night – let me know if you have any recommendations for a light but hydrating serum!
Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Body Creme
I had seen so much hype surrounding this before I finally caved and now I TOTALLY get it. This stuff is incredible – it smells delicious, feels so luxurious to apply but my favourite thing about it? The way it doesn’t do that thing where it turns white and becomes hard to apply when you lather it in to damp skin. It means I can apply it all over after a shower and my skin feels incredible, it really has the best texture of any body cream I’ve ever tried. If you buy one thing…
Byredo Rose Of No Man’s Land Hand Cream
Yep, a bit of a spenny one and absolutely something I save for when I’m feeling in need of a bit of pampering! Jordan bought me this for Christmas and I’ve managed to make it last a year, which really shows some self-restraint because it smells incredible. I also wear the perfume version of this, it’s that sophisticated rose scent I just can’t get enough of!
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Eye Cream*
With one week left of my twenties, it’s about time I started to use eye cream religiously! I have actually been really good at applying it when I remember, and my favourite is definitely this Fresh one. I feel like it’s made a big difference and my peepers look a lot more fresh and smooth. I’m actually almost out of this and I think I’ll repurchase, it’s pretty impressive stuff.
NEOM Bedtime Hero Magnesium Body Butter*
If you struggle to get a full night’s sleep, I cannot recommend this body butter enough. It’s my saviour! I don’t tend to have a hard time falling asleep, but I often wake too early and my brain comes to life! This helps me to get a really restful snooze – plus it smells delicious and I feel very wholesome applying it!
Some words on self-care…
I know “self-care” has become a bit of a buzzword but I do believe in the practice of turning everyday tasks in to moments that give you joy. I think looking after your mental health is so important, so slowing down and actually taking time to pick a playlist for my shower, or spending a few extra minutes lathering a body cream in to my skin (instead of just slapping it on like I’m part of a skincare marathon), are just small practices that remind me to slow down and take stock.
How ever you take time out, whether it be by going for a run, taking a nap in the afternoon, reading a book or switching off by listening to a podcast, make sure you’re making time for yourself. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how some of my bad habits come from working myself in to the ground for a few days at a time, and then feeling so overwhelmed and exhausted that I need to have a few days off (and getting the ol’ self-employed guilt!)
By trying to manage my time better, slowing down and not putting pressure on myself, I can hopefully find a bit more balance over time and not let myself get to the point where I’m so overloaded I can barely think!
So let this post be a reminder to set aside some “me time” and really look after yourself. I hope this inspires you to take care and slow down a little, it’s been a manic year and Christmas is always a little hectic and hard. Sending lots of love to anyone who needs it!
How you get cosy on a winter’s eve?