autumn self & skin care regimes
It's tempting to hold back on the grooming we do in the summer months, and the self care. Here's why and what you should keep things up (with some comfy recommendations).
I used to be extremely guilty of “letting myself go” the minute the clocks went back. I’d call it “relaxing.” Give it four or five weeks and the self loathing kicked in. It took me a while to make this connection but since having done so it’s not something I’m prepared to repeat. More of me may be covered up and less of me visible in the evening light but I will keep up the momentum so my confidence stays where I need it.
It’s not about how I look for others as much as it is how I look for myself. If I eat nutritious food, move my body, take my supplements and do my skincare stuff, things just feel better. Usually the loathing would kick in just before Christmas. I’d then feel rubbish in my party clothes, eat my feelings over the holidays and go into January feeling bad about myself. Sound familiar? Here’s what I’ll be doing to stop that and what I’ll be doing it with…
preventing dry, chapped lips
This is my first pointer for two reasons. Firstly it’s imperative - chapped lips are so sore and make me so sad. Secondly, I recently discovered through my “web guy” (hey, Jack) that for some bizarre reason my website ranks 8th on Google for lip balm recommendations… So, see this as a little update on the ones that made the cut.
I am never further than 3 feet away from a lip salve all year round. It doesn’t matter how much water I drink (most days) - if I skip a day or two without a balm my lips go to sh*t. To say I have tried a few is an understatement. I have ones for during the day, I have ones on my desk, in my car, in the kitchen, in my handbag… and an a mask-style one for overnight. For those who say “the more you use it the more your lips rely on it,” …that ship sailed a long time ago if there is any truth to it. Here are my favourites…
Le Neige Overnight Mask - Any flavour will do, my faves are the pink tub or the vanilla tub. I put this on before bed and it keeps my lips really soft. In summer it’s all I need to do, in winter I still need lip balm during the day… but noticeably less.
L’Occitane Immortelle Lip Contour - If you’re starting to get those little lines around your lips use this and thank me later. It’s the product you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.
Fenty Beauty Plush Pudding Balm - I scoured the country for this, couldn’t find it anywhere so my husband trawled around six Sephoras in the US until he tracked one down. It’s so good, lasts all day and great twister applicator.
Dermalogica Age Smart Balm - Had this for years, probably the first fancy balm I ever tried. Forever converted. Particularly good in wet weather (or something like skiing etc) as its seemingly waterproof.
Nuxe Honey Lip Balm - The newest to me of this whole list, but not to be overlooked. I didn’t know I needed another in my life but turns out I very much do. A brilliant option. The French’s favourite, apparently.
Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm - Fans of this brand won’t be let down by this bad boy. Packed full of marula oils, avocados… all the good stuff. It really works and lasts a long time. Worth every penny, blends well with lipsticks too.
my daily supplement routine
I love a supplement but I’m also fairly good at keeping tabs on what goes in my body and will not put something into my daily routine unless I think it’s going to work (and if when I’ve taken it for a while I have seen a positive difference).
First thing that I do every morning is take my Symprove. I’ve taken it for a while (and worked with them in the past). It’s a daily shot of 10 billion live bacteria to help your gut. It makes a real difference to me - especially in the colder months when I tend to eat heavier, stodgier foods (ie: roast dinners). I think my code, AEH50, will still get you 50% off. Come and find me if you dont see a difference - I’m that confident.
Other stuff, here we go:
mBarc Supplement Tin - I get asked for this whenever it pops up on my Instagram. I do think it’s worth buying a good one (and an aluminium, water tight one).
Beauty Pie Superguy Magnesium Formula - How can I put this in a PC / acceptable way? Sod it, these make me less insane. Magnesium’s main perk is to aid sleep, but I find it massively helps with PMT and general crankiness.
NMN 500mg - I ended up knee deep in TikTok one evening and was “told” that I needed this stuff to stay young. I am rapidly reaching 40 and will take every chance that something won’t tell my body that. So I bought it. I’m 2 months in and can I see a difference? Unclear. However, I am desperately due a botox appointment (time wise) and I can’t see the wrinkles I usually can and given that I’ve been in the sun a lot (which speeds up the need for botox) I’ll take that as a result.
Vida Glow Radiance Advance Repair - I can see a clear difference with these. I really struggle with hormonal zits and since taking these (for 3 months) I’ve seen a noticeable reduction in the force of the breakout. I was given my first pack and have since gone on to buy the others. I’ll be continuing this.
New Leaf Glucosamine & Chondroitin - As much as I hate it to admit it to myself, I have the early signs of arthritis in my fingers and hips. It’s not good, it’s hereditary and I’m quietly doing all I can to delay the onset.
bodycare maintenance
Besides exercise (more on that below), the thing that stops my esteem from dropping through the floor in the darker months is keeping up with some level of body care. I am a bath person so I have no trouble having long soaks in the tub (with magnesium salts from Amazon, here) but I also do/use the following:
I brush my skin with a body brush (mine is here). I don’t do it dry, that didn’t really help me the way others claim it does. I do it as the bath is running, or the shower is heating up, with a little bit of shower cream on me. I find it helps the texture of my skin, but more than anything it stops me getting ingrown hairs on my legs (which happens to me far more in winter as I’m wearing more tight trousers and leggings).
I moisturise my skin after years of not doing so, but only because I’ve found products that work. I put Bloom and Blossom’s Lovely Jubbly on my chest because it keeps the girls firm (although watching the Real Housewives of Orange County does have me frequently questioning how high my nipples should be). I use the same brand’s Booty Gains cream on my bum because I think it lessens dimples and improves skin texture. Finally, I started using the incredible Olay Retinol Lotion every where else on my body (and I know theres a difference as my masseuse who I hadn’t seen in a while complimented me on the change to my skin texture, and took a snap of the lotion to buy it herself). It’s not easy to buy in the UK so ask anyone who’s going to the US to get you some, or pay a premium for it on eBay here.
Continue to bother with hair removal. I’ve gone back to shaving my legs (I epilate everywhere else) because I’ve found a razor that doesn’t give me a rash or bumps and lasts me a week (there really is such thing as a close shave, it seems). The brand is called Estrid and I worked with them on my Instagram. I have a code to get the whole shebang for £7.95 here (use ANNAELERICASE at checkout).
I whiten my teeth and tan my face throughout the winter. For whitening I use either Crest’s 3D Strips (not technically available in the UK as over 6% peroxide but found a link here) or the only UK brand I think that works at all is Spotlight, here. To give my face a little bit of a glow/colour I use Tan Luxe’s Le Creme (it’s very good and often goes out of stock by November as word gets out it’s so good).
move your body
Yes it’s cold outside and yes we’re all unbelievably tired thanks to less daylight and higher workloads - but exercise is brilliant. I’ve gone back to it properly this year and have to say there is nothing more satisfying that sitting down to a hearty winter dinner having worked out and washed. Here are the workouts/things I enjoy:
I personally find an online PT suits me. I can see it’s not for everyone but mine (Kimberly, here) texts me to check in as well as guides me on weekly diet and exercise. I like her workouts and she helps me figure out what other classes to do.
I try my best to get my steps in. Truthfully don’t do 10k every day but I do a good 4/5000 in the morning with the dog (half of those are probably from chasing after her) and try to do another run around with her before it gets dark too.
If you’re easing back into exercise I really recommend Yoga with Adriene on Youtube. It’s free, she has numerous classes and courses. The 30 day yoga challenge is great. I’ve done it a few times and felt gloriously strong and on-track to being a bit fitter.
I love my Peloton. My husband bought it for himself (cliche lockdown purchase) and it turns out he doesn’t like it but I love it. I didn’t realise that it’s so much more than a bike - I do the pilates, HIIT and strength stuff on there as well as the bike stuff.
Exercise is a workout for my mind as well as my body. I’m not the journalling type (I think quicker than I can write, hence all the typos) so fitness is how I relieve stress. If you aren’t sure, try doing this workout specifically for overthinkers and see how you get on…
comfortable couch clothes
It is a rite of passage for us to have nice clothes to crash out in. I’ll do a pyjama edit later in the year, for now we’re talking about loungewear. I really do think if you have clothes you like (rather than make-do slob-out stuff) you’ll feel better about yourself even when you are having a horizontal sofa day (which I strongly believe in and endorse). For me the important thing is to have a good matching loungewear set. One that you can pass out in, but also do an emergency shop-run for carb supplies.
The important thing is that the set feels special. The fabric should be soft and it should flatter your shape. Varley’s Slim Pant is a really good example as it really flatters your legs and is shaped around the bum. I’ve of course put some Suzie Kondi options here as all the cool girls have them - and I really like Skims for loungewear as they seem to understand the true shape of the female body.