Amy's #Lockdown Loves...
BillyNou Big Scrunchie
With nowhere to go or people to see, I’m afraid my hair has remained in a topknot on top of my head for most of the last month. My saving grace has been the most gorgeous, naturally-dyed, organic bamboo hair scrunchie made by the supremely talented Ceilidh Chaplin of BillyNou.
Ceilidh is passionate about sustainability and slow-living, combining that with her beautiful artistic eye, she creates the prettiest hand dyed garments and accessories using colour from wild plants and even kitchen scraps - check out her YouTube channel here to try some of her techniques at home. I am truly inspired and can’t wait to try myself.
This piece is created with the natural dye from wild poppies and rose petals, the colours are dreamy and each one of her creations is completely unique, thanks to the nature of this technique. The texture of the bamboo fibre is akin to silk so my hair is extremely happy and there’s no worry about damage and breakage.
These are selling like hotcakes but Ceilidh replenishes the stock often so check back or drop her a message!
15 Euros – buy here
The Organic Pharmacy Honey & Jasmine Mask
This is something that’s been on my bathroom shelf for a while, sadly somewhat neglected. However, the transition from winter to spring has triggered my skin and it’s been having a little meltdown, so I’ve been reaching for this more and more and now I’m panicking about ever being without it!
It’s incredibly hydrating, which has been like a hallelujah for my dry skin, rich with evening primrose, shea butter and honey and with the rosehip and jasmine, it’s like a balm for the senses, too. I like to use after cleansing and then just leave it to work its magic, whilst I tap away at my desk (the texture means you can carry on with other tasks without worrying about it sliding off) then you can either tissue off any residue or use a warm, damp muslin, which I prefer.
The results are outstanding, a much plumper, dewier, glow-ier version of me. Who doesn’t want that?!
£40 for 40 ml – buy here
Frances Prescott Tri-Body Treatment
One of the joys of being at home more, for me, has meant longer and deeper self-care practices and being able to be more present in these moments.
In pre-lockdown life, I would speedily shower each morning and reach for whatever was nearby to cleanse, time for exfoliation and hydration usually escaping me. So, when Frances Prescott told me she was launching a body treatment, this became the perfect opportunity to put it through its paces.
Frances’ whole ethos is luxurious but multi-tasking products, her double Gold Beauty Bible Award Winning Tri-Balm for example, works as a cleanser, mask and moisturiser in one (do take a look at the stellar result here) and the Tri-Body Treatment is no different. The gel to milk formula is laced with essential oils like ylang ylang, black pepper and vetiver to enliven circulation and cleanse the skin then bamboo granules combined with papaya and mango enzymes give exfoliation and the addition of seaweed extract and rice bran oil nurture skin hydration.
A little tip: I like to slather this on before hopping in the shower, to really work it into my skin and deeply breathe in the invigorating scent. Heaven.
£44 for 150 ml - buy here
Mauli Spirited Kapha Body Oil
I’ve also been relishing the opportunity to do some self-massage, accompanied by this divine oil from Mauli. It’s an ayurvedic blend designed to balance Kapha energies (these can manifest as feelings of heaviness, sluggish digestion, fatigue and congestion), which can be prevalent in spring.
This rejuvenating blend uses the power of frankincense, ginger, eucalyptus, juniper berry and cinnamon to kickstart circulation, ease joint pain and help with any respiratory symptoms. I like to warm some of the oil in my hands and then start from the soles of my feet, working upwards toward the heart using long strokes and paying attention to anywhere feeling particularly tense. I also focus on some of the acupressure points that my wonderful acupuncturist, Maria Christofi shared with us in her Healing feature here.
£47 for 130 ml – buy here
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer
Sadly, I don’t have a garden to enjoy at this time but I do have a little balcony and I’ve certainly been making the most of it, eating my lunch and enjoying the beautiful sunshine we’ve been blessed with. I’m religious with my facial SPF but I’ve still developed a little golden glow as a result, which is welcome after months of a rather pasty post-winter complexion.
This creamy bronzer has been helping me accentuate that natural tan; housed in a handy compact, the texture is light as air. I use it with a brush to buff into the places where the sun would naturally hit, the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, top of the forehead and tip of the chin (not forgetting to blend down onto the neck so you’re all the same colour), it’s brilliantly blend-able and you can build the shade to get your desired colour. Simples.
£28 – buy here
