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How Bazaar editors use their beauty routines to boost their mental wellbeing
The body rituals that help us when times get tough
This year has seen a lot of change, from health concerns to working-from-home during lockdown, so it is no surprise that our mental health has been adversely affected. While we cannot promise that the solution solely rests on the lotions and potions in your beauty cabinet, many of us have discovered that the self-care rituals we have adopted since the start of the pandemic often revolve around our beauty routines.
To offer you some inspiration to experience the same, Bazaar editors and friends of the brand reveal the positive ways in which the recent shift in their day-to-day lives has transformed their beauty habits, including learning new skills and calming troubled minds...
"When I was a little girl, I distinctly remember my mother talking about “putting her face on”, as if she were preparing for battle," says Bazaar's beauty director, Katy Young.
"Today, red lipstick remains my war paint of choice, a swipe of crimson lacquer giving me a sense of calm confidence. Right now, I’m exercising extra self-assurance with the wonderfully bold Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Mat Lipstick in Louise Orange and Dolce & Gabbana Dolcissimo in Fuchsia."
Rouge à Lèvres Matte Lipstick, £34, Gucci
"I usually have a very simple two-step beauty routine – cleanse and moisturise – but now I’ve cut out a long commute, I have time to slather on serums," reveals Bazaar's fashion director, Avril Mair.
"I’m trying out Dermalogica’s Redness Relief Essence in the morning, underneath my beloved Sisley All Day All Year, then Glossier’s Super Glow Vitamin C and Magnesium Serum at night. I’m seeing it as a little bit of extra self-care; it’s rather soothing."
All Day All Year Essential Anti-Aging Day Care, £281, Sisley
"In these uncertain times, it is not surprising if we seek out reliable sources of happiness. Nothing, for me, works so swiftly as a spritz of my favourite scent," says Bazaar's editor-in-chief Lydia Slater.
"A spray of Dior's Diorissimo is an instant mood-booster; sweet and green, like a walk in the woods through a patch of lily of the valley. It reminds me of my wedding day, of sunshine and of the simple joy of being outdoors."
Diorissimo, £94 for 100ml, Dior
"When I’m feeling low, I instinctively reach for my brightest outfit to lift my mood, yet, until recently, I’d forgotten how much experimenting with my make-up can have the same effect," reveals Bazaar's beauty editor Becki Murray.
"So, I’m putting aside my signature metallic brown eyeshadow in favour of testing out every other shade in my beloved collection of Charlotte Tilbury palettes. I’ll also try to get more creative with liquid liner – I’ve discovered that there’s a lot of fun to be had, even if the end result is less than perfect."
Luxury Palette in Pillow Talk, £40, Charlotte Tilbury
"When I’m at the office, I’m usually tottering about in high heels with pointed ends that squash my poor toes into submission (and probably do untold damage to my back as well). So I’m taking the opportunity during social isolation to give my feet some much-needed relief, by wearing comfortable trainers and trying to master the art of the at-home pedicure," says Bazaar's deputy editor Frances Hedges.
"I’m using Margaret Dabbs’ Pure Gold Elixir for Feet to restore smoothness and suppleness, then painting my nails with Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Rouge 999 for the final flourish. At least when we’re finally allowed to go on holiday, I’ll be beach-ready."
Pure Gold Elixir for Feet, £85, Margaret Dabbs London
"There’s nothing like pregnancy to inspire better body care, and my now-commute-free mornings allow me time to extend my skincare routine below the neck," explains Bazaar's digital beauty director Bridget March.
"I begin with body brushing as a form of exfoliation, and an attempt at suppressing the spread of cellulite. Then, I use a layer of Clarins’ toning and firming Tonic Treatment Oil beneath the brand’s Body Partner cream. Improvements in elasticity aside, bump-massage is proving a nice way to connect with my baby."
Tonic Treatment Oil, £39.28, Clarins
"It’s nice to have a bit more time than usual to moisturise my body, care for my feet and indulge in a face-mask. But my favourite thing to do is to take a bath, and I no longer feel guilty for spending 30 to 45 minutes luxuriating in the tub with a book or a podcast," explains the head of PR at Dior, Sydney Finch.
"I’ll use products such as Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil or Vitabath Bath and Shower Gelée – the original scent of which brings back memories of my childhood."
Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil, £49, Aromatherapy Associates
"While I haven’t been travelling of late, I’ve relished the holiday my skin has been granted," says Bazaar's assistant beauty editor Meg Honigmann.
"It’s so rare that instead of daily polluters and full make-up, I can use liberal quantities of La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Sensitive Crème or Barbara Sturm’s Calming Serum on my face. My complexion is truly thankful."
Toleriane Sensitive Crème, £16.50, La Roche-Posay
"I'm (re)discovering the potency of facial massage," says the fashion director for The Telegraph, Lisa Armstrong. "Before coronavirus, I tended to rely on my monthly appointments with Alexandra Soveral, but there are some really helpful tutorials on Instagram, such as @facegym, or simply search "face yoga" on YouTube for DIY home workouts. You feel self-conscious at first, but the benefits to relieving tight jawlines and knotty necks and shoulders are surprising; plus, your skin glows, your cheeks are contoured and you may even sleep better. "
"Taking just 10 minutes a day, carved from your usual commute time, is a worthwhile investment. You will need an oil to lubricate skin, so make it your favourite aromatic one to turn it into a treat: I mix a few drops of the Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum with Garden of Wisdom's organic Amla Nut Oil to make it go further."
Active Botanical Serum, £210, Vintner’s Daughter
"I’m determined to use this as an opportunity to teach an old dog new tricks, and the beauty area in which I am most lacking is hair," says Bazaar's contributing beauty editor, Hannah Betts.
"I’ll continue using the brilliant and inexpensive Dabur Amla Gold Hair Oil (available on Amazon) to deep-condition. Meanwhile, at long last, I am determined to crack a simple blow-dry – I’m particularly craving big, bouffant confections."
Amla Gold Hair Oil, £7.94, Dabur
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