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It was the other morning when I was slathering my limbs in body lotion that I felt a kind of Groundhog Day moment and asked myself ‘who knew these beauty rituals would gain such importance in my day-to-day life?’ I turn 30 in August, and what I deem a “must-have” in my beauty cabinet has dramatically evolved since my early twenties. Now that I’ve cemented a tried-and-tested arsenal of hero skincare and makeup products, I decided that it’s time I unravel what they are and why I can’t live without them…
Body Lotion/Oils
I’ll always remember my old flatmate said to me back at uni, “You don’t leave the house without covering every square inch of your a*rse in lotion!” To be fair she was spot on, and I did have a habit of running around the flat semi-naked searching for body creams. If I had to choose between leaving the house without makeup or without body lotion, makeup gets the boot every time. I guess this is mainly because my skin tends to be on the drier side, but it has become quite a time consuming process in the mornings, I mean it’s a workout in itself! A dedicated body lotion’er since my uni days, I suppose this isn’t a “Coming of Age’ ritual – but it sure has stood the test of time.
Here are some of my favourites…
- Tata Harper Replenishing Body Oil, £100, Space NK
- CeraVe Mosturising Cream, £16, Boots
- Byredo Blanche Body Cream, £45, Byredo
- Glossier Body Hero Body Cream, £18, Glossier
- Kiehl’s Creme De Corps, £12, Space NK
- Biossance Squalane Oil, £25, Biossance
Scented Candles
Now THIS one is truly an age thing. I have fallen so far in love with my latest candle, the Acqua Di Parma Luce Di Colonia, that I carry it with me into every room I enter. I lit it to write this column, in fact. It literally smells like a Spanish sunset, when in reality I’m in quarantine in the East Midlands.
Here are some of my favourites…
Essences/Serums
The Koreans were definitely ahead of the game when it came to skincare. Layering my hydration is my most enjoyable and efficacious part of my skincare routine. It was only a few years back when I used to turn my nose up at all the lightweight water-based serums I’d get sent… ”But it just feels like water?!” now I can’t get enough. My essence/mists section of my bathroom cabinet has grown a sizeable amount, and my serums shelf is as tightly packed as the central line in rush hour. I’ve gone from ‘just a dollop of moisturiser will do’ to a five layers of serum before I even think about a moisturiser. Oh and top tip: Layer your hydration thinnest to thickest!
Here are some of my favourites…
Body Scrubs
My natural skin tone is almost translucent, and as I am yet to have embraced it, my week is spent scrubbing, moisturising, fake tanning, scrubbing, moisturising…you know the drill. If there’s one area of expertise I have culminated in my short time as a beauty blogger, it’s the testing of body scrubs. Now I’m a really harsh critic when it comes to scrubs, with body lotions most things will do, but scrubs have to have that perfect ratio of oil to grit to get my seal of approval. My recommendations are definitely not for the faint of heart, or for those who like a micro exfoliant so buttery you can count the granules in it. These are my ultimate industrious ‘get rid of the fake tan that’s been stuck in between your fingers for days’ body scrubs.
Here are some of my favourites…
- Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Nourishing Body Polish, £40 (or £13.22 for members), Beauty Pie
- Beauty Pie Soul Providers Dry Oil Scrub, £40 (or £9.24 for members), Beauty Pie
- Sanctuary Spa Salt Scrub, £10.50, Boots
- This Works Perfect Legs 100% Natural Scrub, £24, Boots
- Ouai Scalp + Body Scrub, £32, Cult Beauty
Showercare
Gone are the days I’d only buy a shower cream if it was under a pound. Showers, albeit a daily essential, are something I really have to drag myself into. So having a decadent aromatic shower cream to lather in whilst I’m there really puts a smile on my face. Of course as a blogger I get sent these products, but if I never got sent another again, these are the ones I would spend my own money on for that smidgen of luxury.
Here are some of my favourites…
