Luxury Beauty During Quarantine. Should You Feel Guilty?
Most of us are stuck at home right now no thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, however, I think we still need to maintain some sense of semblance in our daily lives. It may be tempting to wear pajamas day in and day out and lose sight of how we would normally care for ourselves, but we shouldn't go down that path because it impacts our self-esteem more than we may realize.
Here’s a story that I’ve never shared with you before.
I freelanced for about three years and in that time I spent most of my days working from home alone. I developed some harmful habits in that first year. I’d start my day by jumping out of bed, head straight to my desk, and stay there until I had to use the washroom or get a snack, and would work late into the evening.
I was stressed to my core, I wasn’t eating healthy, I wasn’t exercising, and I looked a mess. Above all else, I felt completely out of touch with reality and depression soon started to creep in.
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Of course, my depression wasn’t as simple as wearing pajamas seven days a week and there was more happening in the background. Being overworked and not checking in with myself was a recipe for disaster in terms of my mental health.
If there's anything you can take away from my experience, it is to make time for yourself and do things that bring you joy. Maintain a balanced routine to keep your mental and emotional health strong.
Also, practice gratitude and think about the things you do have rather than the things you don't. Get into the habit of listing five things you're grateful for first thing in the morning or before going to bed at night. You'll likely sleep better or start your day off on a better note allowing you to be more productive.
Finally, try waking up at the same time every day, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, drink lots of water, meditate, get plenty of sleep, and know when to turn off the news.
I encourage you all to do some self-care this week because we all need some TLC right now.
So with that, here are 10 of my favorite beauty items that I'm recommending to help lift your spirits while in quarantine. Stay home and stay safe.
Spoil Yourself with These Luxe Items
I've tried my fair share of luxury lip balms but this one tops them all! Clé De Peau's Lip Glorifier (in Pink) is insanely moisturizing and conditioning, and has a subtle yet pleasant rose scent. It feels slightly tingly and enhances the lips natural color leaving them looking dewy and plump. Highly recommend it on its own or under your favorite lipstick as a primer.
I’m a self-proclaimed lipstick addict so it's surprising that I waited this long to get my hands on the new Hermés lipsticks. Not only are the colors richly pigmented and feel hydrating on the lips, but the packaging is also absolutely to die for with its heavyweight enamel case that comes housed in the classic orange box from the luxury fashion house.
Springtime In The Park, a male and female fragrance, is the latest addition to the Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' collection. While I typically favor warm and spicy scents over floral ones, I will switch over to a floral if the mood strike - but it needs to have depth. The key notes in Springtime In The Park are Pear Accord, Lily of the Valley Accord, and Musks that smell so good, you'll want to bathe in it.
Glowy skin is something we all strive for but even more so now that we're in quarantine and staying indoors. I've been using the IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Cream Rosy Tone Moisturizer to help liven my complexion during the day. It also has subtle light-reflecting particles that's lovely on its own or under makeup.
One of the things I like to do to elevate my mood is to light a bougie candle. At first, The scent of Diptyque's popular Baies candle radiates the compelling freshness of a bouquet of roses, sweetened by Blackcurrant Leaves.
NARS award-winning Radiant Creamy Concealer provides medium, buildable coverage that's long-wearing looks natural on the skin. It's the only concealer that I consistently repurchase and always have in my makeup bag.
NARS Orgasm blush is probably one of the most iconic makeup items in modern-day history and it’s said that one is sold every minute. This universally flattering peachy-pink shade has golden shimmers which gives cheeks that natural glow-from-within look.
I go through more bottles of serum than I do moisturizer. This Smart Moisture Serum from the Giorgi Armani skincare line contains hyaluronic acid and crimson seaweed, to give skin luminous moisture.
Anyone experiencing dull skin will want to get their hands on Neostrata’s Glycolic Microdermabrasion Polish asap. It's a gentle, but effective polish containing 10% AHA and professional-grade crystals to revitalize skin instantly.
If you're like me with combo/oily skin, you know how frustrating it is to rely on powder to set your makeup because you hate the matte finish you're left with. I was devoted to my MAC Fix+ Setting Spray before getting my hands on ABH's Dewy Set Spray. It leaves my skin with a natural dewy finish and locks everything into place.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
Artwork and photos by Nathalie Martin.
Stock photography from ShopStyle.com.