No products in the basket.
Lifestyle
WELLBEING TIPS TO INSPIRE AND SEE YOU THROUGH THE ‘NEW NORMAL’
There’s no doubt about it; these are surreal and anxiety-inducing times. All the routine things we’ve taken for granted – meeting up with friends, shopping as we want, having a regular beauty treatment or hopping on a plane to a new destination – have now changed to a point that we couldn’t have imagined just a few months ago.
‘Self-isolation’, and ‘social distancing’ are now part of our everyday vocabulary, movement is dramatically restricted and for many the home is now also the workplace. The world feels very out of kilter. Our priorities have quickly switched and all that really matters right now is keeping yourself, and in turn those around you, safe from coronavirus (Covid-19).
Although home is where the heart is, staying in for a long period of time might seem overwhelming, so while we have to reduce our horizons for the moment, it’s worth remembering that there’s still joy to be found, often in the most simple things.
To help navigate you through this ‘new normal’, here are some tips for self-caring and staying healthy, happy and positive.
All-important hand hygiene
As we all know by now, one of the most important yet easiest ways of protecting yourself is to regularly wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Remove bacteria, dirt and viruses by lathering and rubbing both sides of the hands, between the fingers, around the wrists and underneath jewellery. To make it as pleasurable as possible, why not invest in a luxury hand wash (one that contains cleansing ingredients) that brings you a little extra joy?
If you don’t have access to water, a good quality hand gel with at least 60% alcohol content is an effective back-up. BEAUTYLAB’s Hand Gel contains 70% sanitising alcohol and its reassuring formula leaves hands instantly and impeccably clean and safeguarded. It also includes exceptionally antibacterial radish root, anti-inflammatory white willow and aloe that provides soothing hydration, keeping the hands soft and protected.
As part of a community initiative, BEAUTYLAB is donating supplies of Hand Gel to the Trussell Trust a UK-based charity that provides vital help to people unable to afford food, and particularly challenged by the current outbreak. The product will be given to the charity’s volunteers, to help keep them protected whilst they carry out their valuable work. The Trussell Trust supports the largest national network of food banks, with 1200 centres providing emergency food and practical, compassionate support to people in crisis. To find out more about this incredible charity, please read here.
Working from home
If you find yourself having to work at home, there are some really simple things you can do to create a positive experience that enhances creativity, productivity and fulfilment.
- Bring your own style to the designated area – maybe add a lick of paint, hang some artwork, introduce some plants, diffuse essential oils and perhaps put together some playlists that will help you concentrate and lift your spirits.
- If you can, position your desk opposite a window so that you can enjoy natural light and also feel connected to the outside world; this will help improve your overall wellbeing. If you’re unable to do this, maybe invest in a gorgeous lamp in an unusual shape or colour that you enjoy and find aesthetically pleasing.
- To keep you going through the day, stock up on some tasty, healthy treats such as fruits and nuts. If you can, perhaps invest in a mini fridge to keep your water cool or a coffee machine to enjoy an espresso or latté during the day, without the distraction of having to go to the kitchen.
- Stretch regularly as this will help you maintain posture. Set aside time for some light exercise during your lunch break. This boosts endorphins, keeping you happy and motivated, which will in turn boost productivity.
- As tempting as it is to stay in your pyjamas all day (what’s not to love?!), get dressed as you would normally and if it makes you feel good, put on some eyeliner, lipstick or perfume. Maybe then treat yourself to a ‘dress down’ Friday. Or you could do a ‘dress up’ Friday evening, to put a full stop on your week and get you into a weekend frame of mind.
- Set your intention at the beginning of the day and then reward yourself when you think you’ve done well… perhaps order some decadent chocolates, treat yourself to some flowers or purchase a new candle or beauty product; whatever it takes to make you happy!
- Stay connected. Take time to chat to colleagues, members of the team or clients each day. Even if you’re not talking about work, find out how they are and connect with them as people. In these times, it won’t go unappreciated and will hopefully put a smile on somebody’s face.
Create a positive aromatic atmosphere
Smell is one of the most important senses we possess, but is often overlooked. So maybe take the opportunity to create aromas that you love by adding pure essential oils to a diffuser or burner. The very act of blending oils brings pleasure, so perhaps take some time to learn about the art of aromatherapy, to enhance the experience.
- To help you focus when working, stimulating oils such as rosemary, black pepper and lemon help to boost concentration and alertness.
- To purify the home, cleansing oils such as sweet orange, tea-tree and eucalyptus work wonders on battling bacteria in the air.
- For a blissful wind-down ritual at the end of the day, surround your senses with relaxing oils such as lavender, geranium and rose.
- To relieve anxiety (who isn’t feeling a little stressed right now?), oils of bergamot, clary sage and ylang-ylang promote a sense of peace and clarity.
- To elevate energy and boost your mood, oils of grapefruit, orange and lime will help you to feel fresh, invigorated and motivated.
Create a positive aromatic atmosphere
Smell is one of the most important senses we possess, but is often overlooked. So maybe take the opportunity to create aromas that you love by adding pure essential oils to a diffuser or burner. The very act of blending oils brings pleasure, so perhaps take some time to learn about the art of aromatherapy, to enhance the experience.
- To help you focus when working, stimulating oils such as rosemary, black pepper and lemon help to boost concentration and alertness.
- To purify the home, cleansing oils such as sweet orange, tea-tree and eucalyptus work wonders on battling bacteria in the air.
- For a blissful wind-down ritual at the end of the day, surround your senses with relaxing oils such as lavender, geranium and rose.
- To relieve anxiety (who isn’t feeling a little stressed right now?), oils of bergamot, clary sage and ylang-ylang promote a sense of peace and clarity.
- To elevate energy and boost your mood, oils of grapefruit, orange and lime will help you to feel fresh, invigorated and motivated.
Bring nature inside
With limited access to the outside world, why not reap the benefits of calming nature by bringing it into the home? While adding to the aesthetic, plants promote wellbeing and breathe new life into your space. They absorb toxins, increase humidity and produce oxygen, thus improving air quality. Their volatile organic compounds help to boost the immune system and the sense of peace around them helps to reduce stress and fatigue.
Try to add a new plant in each key room and maybe also grow some herbs in the kitchen. Not only nutritious when added to food, herbs spread a wonderfully soothing aroma.
Make the most of spare time
Take time to unwind. Perhaps curl up with the books you’ve been meaning to read, binge-watch that Netflix series you’ve been wanting to see or catch up on podcasts you stacked up. Get creative in the kitchen and master your skills or maybe immerse yourself in writing a journal or story.
If learning inspires you, then the newfound extra time may give you the incentive to take an online course and learn a new skill – from photoshop to reiki; a new language to filmmaking; vegetarian cooking to meditation – the possibilities are endless!
For a culture fix, you can take virtual tours of museums, famous landmarks or art galleries. Or for fun, enjoy hanging out online with friends or host virtual games nights. Maybe attend online music or comedy gigs. For pure escapism, plan your next holiday. Who knows when we can move around freely again, but having something to look forward can only be a positive thing.
Create your own spa
Your beauty regime may not be the most important priority right now, but there’s no doubt that having healthy-looking, glowing skin boosts the spirits… and when this is all over, you’ll step out looking your confident best.
So, while your favourite salon is off the menu for the moment, why not improvise and create your own mini spa? Turn your bathroom or bedroom into a heavenly sanctuary by dimming the lights, putting on some soothing music and lighting up your favourite scented candles for a feeling of zen. Move to another room, put on a bathrobe, sip on some herbal tea and sit in a comfy position for as long as you need to release tension and let the mind unwind. When you’re ready, go into your ‘spa room’ and begin your treatments.
- Have a therapeutic bath. Taking a long soak can calm the mind, alleviate fatigue, boost the circulation and assist in eliminating toxins too. It can re-energise, relax, soothe aching muscles or help to improve sleep. Blend essential oils with a couple of teaspoons of carrier oil (such as sweet almond or jojoba) and then add this mix, along with a cup of epsom salts, to a full bath. Make sure you disperse it fully before getting into the water. Enhance the experience by lighting your favourite candles or some gorgeously glistening tea lights.
– Calm and relax: 3 drops of rose oil, 3 drops of lavender, 2 drops of chamomile.
– Muscle relief: 3 drops of marjoram oil, 3 drops of black pepper, 2 drops of rosemary.
– Aid meditation: 3 drops of myrrh oil, 3 drops of sweet orange, 2 drops of frankincense.
– Aid sleep: 3 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of sweet orange, 2 drops of ylang-ylang.
- Lift impurities, cleanse pores and hydrate the skin with an old-school facial steam. Boil a kettle and tip the water into a bowl, add some essentials and let it sit for 3 minutes. Tea-tree and lavender work well for oily skin, rose and jasmine for mature skin, geranium and lavender for sensitive skin. Place your face about 18 inches away from the bowl and cover your head with a towel. Take 10 minutes to breathe in deeply and enjoy the time to be still and in the moment.
- Treat your complexion to your favourite BEAUTYLAB exfoliator and mask, for bright, even and illuminated appearance.
- Pamper your body with BEAUTYLAB’s body care range, for a polished, hydrated, soft and healthy-looking glow.
- If you’re missing the sunshine, then pep up the skin’s appearance with BEAUTYLAB’s hydrating peptide tanning range, for a healthy-looking, top-to-toe faux-glow.
You may also like to get creative and make your own spa-worthy face masks. Leave on for around 15 minutes and then rinse the skin with tepid water.
- Hydrate and moisturise dry skin: 1 avocado, 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey.
- Combat acne and blemishes: 1 tablespoon of manuka honey, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon of dead sea salt.
- Lighten hyperpigmented or uneven skin: 1 tablespoon of honey, ½ cup of mashed papaya.
- Soothe sensitive skin: 1 tablespoon of plain yoghurt, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder.
- Improve pores and remove bacteria: 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon of orange juice, ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder.
For super-smooth, radiant skin, you might also want to create your own body exfoliators. You can use salts for a more abrasive scrub or sugar for a more gentle scrub (we’re suggesting sugar). Make sure to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Ideally dry brush first, dampen the skin in the shower, apply the mixture and massage in. Rinse thoroughly. Store any remaining product in an airtight container.
- Gentle top to toe: 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of oil of your choice (sweet almond, jojoba, coconut or grapeseed), 1 or 2 drops of essential oil of your choice.
- Anti-ageing / dry skin: 1 cup of brown sugar, ¼ cup of oil of your choice (sweet almond, jojoba, coconut or grapeseed), 1 tablespoon of rosehip oil.
- Invigorating: 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of oil of your choice (sweet almond, jojoba, coconut or grapeseed), ¼ teaspoon of peppermint essential oil, zest of 1 lime.
Mind, body and spirit
Now’s the time to keep your body healthy, mind strong and spirit uplifted. Sound sleep, healthy nutrition, exercise and taking care of your mental health will help you through this period, so that you can also be of value to others.
Other than the well documented physical advantages, exercise can also help to boost the immune function, alleviate stress and improve emotional health. Both mindfulness (awareness of our outer life) and meditation (awareness of our inner life) go hand-in-hand and help us to access inner peace and increase happiness. All of these are useful tools right now. If you’re a novice, you can stream all types of taster sessions and classes online. Schedule some time in your diary and feel the benefits!
Try focusing on the positive. Ask yourself “What was I grateful for today?”. If it helps, share this journey with someone else and tell each other three things each day for which you are grateful.
Reflect on how people are helping each other right now, the acts of kindness and how people are coming together.
Stock up on compassion and give back. Reach out to a friend, family member or neighbour who’s experiencing loneliness or is in need. Maybe volunteer to help vulnerable members of the community.
Believe that when this period has ended and the dust has settled, we’ll see the world in a new and more appreciative light. There has to be a silver lining.
READ MORE
