Valentine's Day? Self-Care Day

Valentine’s Day is all about love, yes? Well, for this year’s holiday, why not show yourself a little love and self-care? Single or taken, you deserve it.

So let’s talk supplies. When I think of the phrase self-care, three things come to mind: bath bubbles, face masks and chocolates. It may be basic, but it works a treat every time. With shops currently closed, your local supermarkets will still stock up on these goodies or you can head to online retailers like ASOS, LookFantastic or CultBeauty to find your favourites. Personally, for a face-mask, the brand YesTo stock my favourite ever range, with a budget price-tag to match too. Chocolates wise? Grab about fifteen boxes and you should be just about good enough to go; let’s be serious, you can never have enough chocolate. And, if you’re looking for some good bubbles in your bath, Sanctuary Spa have an amazing range of products perfect for sprucing up your bath time that smell absolutely heavenly. To finish the bath routine, no bath is complete without a calming candle or diffuser to set the mood- think brands like NEOM, Jo Malone, Diptyque and Yankee Candle. Get in that bath and paint your nails, listen to a podcast, read a book- just enjoy those bubbles.

We’ve covered your bubble bath and chocolate indulgence- that’s two, essential self-care basics. But what else can you do this Valentine’s Day?

An idea of mine this Valentine’s Day as a single-pringle was to buy myself something a week or two before the actual date and not open the package until Valentine’s Day. This doesn’t have to be anything major, it could be anything: a book you’ve wanted to check out for weeks, a new nail varnish perhaps or maybe a pair of shoes even. And, on the flip-side, if you want to treat yourself to something major, you go for it. Think of it as a little gift to yourself that you deserve and can enjoy.

And as boring as it may be, a long walk is sometimes the ultimate self-love treat. Going outside and getting some fresh air is known to be beneficial to your mental health and it gets you outside of the house too. Think of it as a little break during your rom-com movie marathon or general Netflix viewings, if rom-coms aren’t your thing (I see you girls, I see you). Whilst we’re stuck inside, there are still so many other activities you can do to keep yourself busy and relaxed, for example, why not try a colouring book? They’re the ultimate de-stresser and a whole lot of fun; colouring books are no longer just for kids. Or why not try some baking even? BBC Good Food have some great recipes online, perfect for either beginners or experts.

Enjoy the day and enjoy treating yourself. Sometimes it’s hard not to get wrapped up in a big ball of stress and self-criticism, especially in the current climate we live in, so let’s take this day for ourselves.

My Product Recommendations:

1. YesTo ‘Grapefruit Vitamin C Glow Boosting Mud Mask’ (£3) (Available on Beauty Bay)

2. Beauty Pro ‘Avocado Infused Sheet Mask’ (£4.95) (Available on LookFantastic)

3. Sanctuary Spa ‘Luxury Bath Float’ (£12 for 500ml) (Available on Boots)

4. Soap And Glory ‘Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath’ (£8 for 500ml) (Available on Boots)

5. NEOM ‘Real Luxury Scented Candle’ from the ‘Scent To De-Stress’ Range (£46) (Available on LookFantastic)

6. ‘The Little Book Of Positivity’ by Lucy Lane (£6.99) (Available on WHSmith)

7. ‘Animal Kingdom’ Colouring Book by Millie Marotta (£7.99) (Available on Amazon)