THE LOCKDOWN EDIT

Here we go again! We find ourselves well into lockdown 3 and aside from all of the other important things we have to do (working from home, home schooling, staying sane…) we all know that the most important thing is an attempt at feeling good!!

Let’s not dwell on the fact that we’re all suffering with an eruption of unruly skin, wonky nails and bad backs in need of some serious massage and focus on the positive - lockdown is a perfect excuse to discover new products to use at home & set aside some ‘you time’.

I present my lockdown edit of 20 health and beauty essentials - the products I could not live without right now that will keep me going until the arrival of freedom & sunny skies. You can see the line up in the photo above for a quick browse or if you want more information continue to read below…

1. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. My twice a week winter treat, this is a very creamy cleanser so not one to use every evening. Rosemary, chamomile and eucalyptus are so warming, soothing & rejuvenating that it is an effective remedy for cold days. I especially love to use it when I have a cold to help comfort my skin & soothe my senses.

2. A Muslin Cloth. Buy a few, always remove any facial cleanser with a muslin cloth & wash daily.

3. Jan Marini Bioglycolic Cleanser. This is my daily facial wash all year around - a creamy gel texture that is perfect for combination skin, the glycolic acid helps to break down the top layers of dead skin & build up of dirt to exfoliate without any abrasion or any skin stripping action.

4. The Organic Pharmacy Lip & Eye Cream. Another winter time staple of mine, this is the richest most gloriously smelling eye cream I have ever used packed with over 70% of organic ingredients. Use a rice sized amount and gently press around the eye socket. A huge relief for dry eyes or chapped skin & lips without any clogging.

5. Jan Marini Transformation Cream. One of my favourite results based brands again - you will never find my bathroom shelf without a pot of this transforming elixir on it. It contains a blend of growth factors and peptides which in turn encourage the skin to heal faster by tricking the cells into producing more collagen and elastin, resulting in less fine lines and a hit of hyaluronic acid based hydration. This cream is regular advised for patients post surgery to help with skin repair & recovery.

6. James Read Sleep Mask Tan (Face). A must have product for pale winter skin. This is a clear coloured gel/serum which when applied before bedtime gives a very subtle hint of sun kissed skin the next day - it is perfect for pale skin tones and those who hate the smell of self tan, yucky colours & textures. The scent of aloe vera really shines through & you can build night on night for more colour.

7. Khiel’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I have recently discovered this product after trying a sample and it has now made a regular occurrence in my evening skincare routine. I do have to be very careful being prone to breakouts, following a very bad case of cystic acne when younger and so tend to avoid most serum type products. However this harmoniously fits right in to my routine with no repercussions. As with all serums & oils I advise to rub between your hands and press into the skin - avoid over saturating the skin which in turn may not easily absorb the serum & result in breakouts.

8. Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF30. Put simply, WEAR AN SPF!! Make sure it covers UVA for aging and UVB for burning. Sun or cloud, those rays will still penetrate your skin & cause premature aging. I wish I had taken this advice a lot more seriously when younger, but better late than never. This one has a light almost primer like texture and therefore sits happily under make up.

9. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. I don’t wear a lot of make up & especially not in lockdown. This is hydrating, gives a smooth veil of colour & is perfect for those zoom calls.

10. Benefit GoGo Tint. I honestly could not live without a cheek & lip stain in my life. It sounds dramatic, but it literally brings my face to life & takes a second to apply. I just feel like a happier person when I have that rosy glow & all you need is touch of lip balm on the top.

11. Saint Luxe Clear Brow Gel. A new product which has changed my morning routine for the better - how did I live without a brow gel before?! I love the packaging & branding of this company. Brushing & setting those brows gives an instantly ‘put together’ look.

12. Neom Large Candle. Light & inhale the organic blend of aromatherapy oils. I always dip my finger into the wax once blown out and massage it into my hands and cuticles for a deeply nourishing treatment.

13. The River Cafe Cookbook. Not a beauty product, but important to me! Food and cooking are one of mine & my husbands greatest pleasures and this book is our bible of Italian cuisine. Indulge and experiment with some new recipes until we can dine out again.

14. Warming Eye Pillow. Coming soon to one of my new post lockdown treatments (watch this space). There seems to be a rising case of insomnia during the stress of lockdown. A warming lavender eye pillow is just sheer heaven for tired eyes and it forces you to close your eyes in darkness for at least 10 minutes which basically has the same benefits as a power nap. Pop in the microwave, lie down & breathe…

15. Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion. Keratosis Pilaris, chicken skin, bumpy arms… a good percentage of you will know what I am talking about. This daily body lotion uses optimal levels of Lactic acid which is a naturally occurring AHA to help breakdown these pesky bumps which are caused by a build up keratin that block hair follicles. I use this on the tops of my arms after every shower and it has made a considerable difference.

16. Ionicell Supplements from Victoria Health. I have recently neglected my supplements after a stressful few weeks and I can feel and see the difference. I came across these capsules when I was suffering with post natal hair loss - nothing too terrible but something a lot of women endure. These bad boys contain a patented fulvic ionic complex (fulvic acid is a miracle ingredient for skin, hair & nails) and over 65 trace minerals to help restore hair & skin starting from our bodies cellular health. They helped me a lot!

17. Aromatherapy Associates Revive Bath Oil. The power of scent is enough to transform my mood and all you need are a few drops in the bath.

18. Byredo Gypsy Water Body Lotion. My perfume of choice, I usually apply this for special occasions after a shower. Woody notes, amber & citrus evoke a warming earthy scent - simply divine. Scent is so personal, always try a sample before splashing out.

19. Bamford Botanic Pillow Spray. A spritz of frankincense & lavender over my bedding before my head hits the pillow…Dreamy.

20. Getting Hygge With It - I couldn’t help myself ;) We don’t need a book to understand it’s meaning, but the greatest comfort we have right now is getting cosy under a blanket with some Netflix. Make the most of this before the new normal life resumes & our social lives can once again blossom!