Little things you do that make you feel a bit better!

[ilikebooksandplants]

Can we have a thread about small acts of beauty related self care?

My hair appointment had to be cancelled because I caught COVID so my hair looks crap and we’re now in tier 4; My nails are crap (no change there though!); my brow appointment cancelled for the same reason and I feel disgusting after being ill. I feel like a dehydrated husk.

I just feel in need of a small beauty boost to make myself feel better!

Also, treat yourself to a good cleanse, tone, moisturise set.
I like Liz Earle, it’s like a little treat every day.

Exfoliate every day with soap in the shower and a spray on body moisteriser afterwards.
Weekly spa treatments; facial, hair, pedicure and manicure. Since using a fast dry nail top coat I find my nails are a doddle.

I've always followed a cleanse, tone, moisturize regime so have kept that up every day. For me it doesn't have to be expensive products, just as long as I do it ( although I do love Elemis cleansing balm).

I also love Elemis cleansing balm. It smells like lovely hotel spas to me! It doesn't irritate my skin either, which is amazing, as my skin is quite temperamental.

I've just painted my nails and am wearing my nice perfume today, inspired by this thread !

Bowl of sugar grab and mix with handful of shower gel scrub on your skin. It will really take all the dead skin away and leave it supersoft. If you have aqueaus cream about or something really oily its even better effect. It also stimulates everything and you may be peeing abit after. Drink more water. Its a bit harsh for your face but i did use caster sugar once and it was ok. I stick to Aldi cleanse and polish as its better than liz earle's .

Skin brushing is really good everyday when you do it!

@Brot64 what are the “gel soaks” that you wear around the house? Thanks

@Brot64 I also would love to know what a gel soak is!

I have bought Philip Kingsley Elasticizer which I leave on overnight on a Sunday and makes my hair much softer and more manageable. I can definitely see a big difference in my skin if I use my Eve Lom cleanser and the muslin, much more glowy.

@MyHouse2011 @sorrysaywhatnow

Sorry typo there, they are gel socks not soaks. I get them off Amazon. Have tried several but these work best for me.

Full-body dry brushing every morning before I get in the shower.

It wakes my whole body up and I feel all zingy and soft.... I've noticed my cellulite's less noticeable and my legs haven't gone all scaly this winter.

It's funny, because I used to roll my eyes at that sort of thing, and then I inexplicably picked up a facial dry brush at the pharmacy just before lockdown and now I do my whole body religiously.

Fully converted. Love it. 10/10 would recommend.

Following with interest. Have a few items in my Boots basket. TiredMummy which Eve Lom cleanser do you use? The capsules look fiddly!

Hi, I get this www.evelom.co.uk/products/rescue-ritual-gift-set

And it is on sale at the moment! I do think it is worth it at full price but it would pain me to buy it then!

Agree with multivitamins, taking care of nails and daily perfume.

My lovely hairdresser did my roots for me Christmas Eve when the salon was supposedly just shut before we went into Tier 4, otherwise I would really be suffering by mid Jan.

If my hair is shit I feel shit all over and like nothing can offset it.

I got desperate about my eyebrows during first lockdown and bought a home waxing kit...game changer. The strips are useless so don't waste your money.
In spite of staying home, I apply make up every day and wash my hair with Hairburst products. Watch out for their regular BOGOF offers otherwise it's a pricey treat. They resent hair loss but also make your hair glow with health..if hair can actually glow!
A walk in all weathers is a great way to boost how you feel and I also got hooked on the 7 day 7 minute exercise plan...it really works. (link below)
And remember, you're special anyway xx

www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=7+day+7+minute+exercise&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_YDTyX63kIuee1fAPkoqRuAo11

I've noticed that when I wear makeup my skin looks loads better without it, I think it's more to do with the fact I religiously take it off on an evening with a really good routine of cleanser, face wash, toner and then moisturiser.

I absolutely love this moisturiser -www.espaskincare.com/optimal-skin-pro-moisturiser/12226525.html however now I'm on maternity leave I cannot justify the cost until I go back to work in September.

@ilikebooksandplants you're not alone, my skin and hair have gone to shit since COVID. So. Dry.

Now feeling a bit better after lots of moisturising and currently using a trial set of Olaplex for my hair.

Seconding full body brushing. I am v fat and unfit but I feel bouncing with energy afterwards. Followed by lots of tap water with slices of lemon or lime if I have them in the house to further help with peeing away toxins. And aromatherapy oils, in the bath, a drop or two in cheap unscented body lotion, shampoo, facial oil, and in a saucer of water on top of the radiators. My DSs (16 and 20) have been pinching my rosemary and eucalyptus ones. It reminds them of vicks apparently.

I don't know if it's a small act as such but lately I've just been trying to keep everything 'up together' as it were, so keeping my nails nice rather than let them get too long etc, and have treated myself to a few nice products.

I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily (I love Aldi's Liz Earle dupe), and recently bought the ultimate sleep cream from M&S which is gorgeous.

Body lotion daily, and frequent use of exfoliating gloves and my chiropodist sponge thingy on my feet, followed with a ton of footcream.

Keeping nails short, cuticles tidy, using cuticle oil and handcream a lot. Oh and lip balm too.

All very basic things but i feel nice if I keep this up together rather than letting my feet turn into trotters and my lips/hands go dry.

I treated myself to loads of Nuxe products in the M&S sale too and am enjoying using huile prodigieuse lots, the smell alone (am using florale atm) is beautiful.

@PeterPeterson

I've noticed that when I wear makeup my skin looks loads better without it, I think it's more to do with the fact I religiously take it off on an evening with a really good routine of cleanser, face wash, toner and then moisturiser.

I absolutely love this moisturiser -www.espaskincare.com/optimal-skin-pro-moisturiser/12226525.html however now I'm on maternity leave I cannot justify the cost until I go back to work in September.

This was on offer at the start of the sale, I bought two! Keep an eye out

My skin routine is my calmness morning and night. I started a New Years resolution just to moisturise every day last year and thanks to a friend giving me a skincare book, I now have a whole routine. My favourite it a balm cleanse; especially a great smelling one.

My hair hasn't been done since the start of August. I bought some Maria Nila colour refresh which is fab, doesn't cover greys but left my hair shiny and got rid of the brassiness. I'm taking comfort that it's getting long and isn't full of split ends

Quick fixes:

Rub vaseline or cuticle oil into your cuticles at bed time. Takes 60 seconds.

I use Nyx eyebrow gel to tidy and set my brows each day. Takes 60 seconds.

Garnier gradual build self-tanning spray - I give my face a blitz of this maybe twice a week or three times a fortnight. Not enough to make me look like I have a tan in winter, but just enough to take the edge off my pale winter skin by giving me just a hint of colour so I don't look unwell!

Just painted my nails and done a top coat of Seche Vite as recommended - I'm hoping this will help me get a couple of days without chipping. I love painted nails but my nails always chip quickly and look a mess so if this works I'll be very happy!

I never let my toe nails get scruffy. They are done every 2 weeks. Use baby oil all over the cuticles then you can push them right back and your pedicure will last longer. I use a base coat but if you buff the nails before you paint them ordinary nail polish will stay on fine. I do the cuticles with the cuticle blade. In between rub a tiny amount of baby oil on your cuticles stops your toes looking dry. Or Vaseline as pp said.

Use a foot cream for cracked heels at bed time. You can buy it in morrisons for £1 now!!!

My fingernails look like hell though!

I wash and dry my hair every night and straighten with cloud 9's. Since I got my hair blunt bobbed this has been amazing - hair looks exactly the same when I wake up and I do nothing before leaving home - to my hair.

@Uptoongirl

Just painted my nails and done a top coat of Seche Vite as recommended - I'm hoping this will help me get a couple of days without chipping. I love painted nails but my nails always chip quickly and look a mess so if this works I'll be very happy!

I do my nails on a Sunday in bed. They last a week. Admittedly I do very little housework and I keep them pretty short.

I use Orly bonder as a base, two coats of colour, Seche Vite and then drying drops. I started a new remote job in Sept and several people have commented on how nice my nails are, and assumed I get them done because they look like gels.
(Though like everyone I have dry cuticles currently)
Hot pink this week! To cheer me up a bit.

Thanks @Brot64