As mother to three demanding teens, wife to my darling farming husband Frank, freelance makeup artist and keeper of a busy house, my life is full on. A lot of time I feel like I am chasing my tail, dashing from one job to the next, multi-tasking and never having a moment to draw breath. By the end of last year, I was starting to feel tired, a bit overwhelmed and never managing to have any “me” time.
So, at the beginning of this year, I decided I needed to make some changes for myself. I decided that if I am feeling happy and positive, then surely this will reflect on to my family. I needed to be kind to myself and invest a bit of time in me. So for this month’s column, I wanted to share some great self-care tools and tips to help you look and feel fabulous inside and out.
I now start every morning by getting out of my bed and stretching my arms up high above my head. I pull in my tummy and push my shoulders back.
I spread out my fingers and toes and breathe. Essentially, I am taking the time to stretch out my entire body, and then I gently, slowly circle my arms up, over and behind 10 times.
This is a light, easy but effective stretch. Get into this habit and you will see your posture improve within weeks; especially if you can combine it with a brisk 30-minute walk later in the day.
Every morning I drink a mug of hot water with a big slice of lemon.
I pop the water and lemon in a mug, leave it on the side and whilst I’m making the children’s school lunches, I let the lemon steep in the water.
This simple drink works wonders detoxing and cleansing your body and is great for hydrating your skin.
Some days I find myself eating lunch in the car on the way from one job to the next.
What I now do is prepare a healthy lunch the night before, such as a yummy salad with cottage cheese, tuna, peppers and tomatoes with chopped carrot/cucumber sticks and a big bottle of water.
I also leave a few forks and a packet of wet wipes in the side door of my car so I’m always prepared.
After a hectic day, I love nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath to sooth my aching body and relax. Johnson’s Baby Oil is an oldie but a goodie that you will find in any supermarket. Adding just two capfuls into a hot bath will work a treat to moisturise your tired skin, but make sure you tie your hair up first as if the oil gets into your tresses, it will take a few shampoos to get it out!
Also remember to rinse out the bath properly afterwards to avoid any slips. The oil can also be lightly rubbed directly onto your body – particularly the knees, elbows, legs and arms – to prepare your skin for the summer ahead, or if your feet need some TLC, remove old nail varnish, trim and file nails, rub in a little oil and pop on a pair of cotton socks before bed to let it work its magic overnight.
Speaking of getting summer-ready, Garnier Summer Body Light Moisturizer Sun Kissed Look is a winner product. Available from stockists including www.boots.ie for €7.99, this moisturiser is easily applied and can be used daily after your shower to give your pale winter skin a very natural, radiant gradual tan.
It’s non-greasy and the camomile and apricot extracts smell so nice and will leave the skin soft and supple. Always wash your hands after application.
I always look and feel better after I have popped on some bright lipstick and if you have never done this, take courage and go for a brighter shade than you’re used to.
Elizabeth Arden have produced the most divine ‘Pink Punch’ limited edition lipstick (left) with all proceeds from sales to go directly towards achieving gender equality across the globe, which is a wonderful thing. All of Elizabeth Arden’s Beautiful Colour lipsticks range are moisturising, highly pigmented and fade-resistant. Their matte formula glides across your lips for a silky-smooth, long-lasting finish, and at €26, it’s another affordable find for you.
Finally, for me, a feel-good treat is to have a facial. Guinot have just brought out a new Lift Summum facial, so last month I headed off to Elegant Lady Beauty Salon in Edenderry and enjoyed the most deluxe 50-minute facial: a combination of exfoliation, relaxing massage, face and neck mask and wrinkle eraser. I was delighted with the effects. The following morning my face looked brighter and firmer, especially my jaw and neck area.
For best results, Guinot advise the Lift Summum facial needs to be a three-course treatment: one a week for three weeks. It costs €80 per treatment and if you do book up the course of three, you will get a free €40 Crème Derma Liss face cream. This tube of nourishing face cream/primer has a tint so it can be worn on its own or underneath your foundation. It will also help fill in any fine lines or open pores whilst moisturising the skin.
To find the nearest Guinot salon to you, click here but note that prices may vary slightly as each salon will have their own specifically tailored Guinot beauty packages on special.
So ladies, as my mother always used to say to my sisters and I, ‘Happy girls are the prettiest’. I hope you all take a little time out to treat yourselves.
Read more
Dolly Buckley: How to look and feel great in 2019
A beauty-ful Christmas cracker
As mother to three demanding teens, wife to my darling farming husband Frank, freelance makeup artist and keeper of a busy house, my life is full on. A lot of time I feel like I am chasing my tail, dashing from one job to the next, multi-tasking and never having a moment to draw breath. By the end of last year, I was starting to feel tired, a bit overwhelmed and never managing to have any “me” time.
So, at the beginning of this year, I decided I needed to make some changes for myself. I decided that if I am feeling happy and positive, then surely this will reflect on to my family. I needed to be kind to myself and invest a bit of time in me. So for this month’s column, I wanted to share some great self-care tools and tips to help you look and feel fabulous inside and out.
I now start every morning by getting out of my bed and stretching my arms up high above my head. I pull in my tummy and push my shoulders back.
I spread out my fingers and toes and breathe. Essentially, I am taking the time to stretch out my entire body, and then I gently, slowly circle my arms up, over and behind 10 times.
This is a light, easy but effective stretch. Get into this habit and you will see your posture improve within weeks; especially if you can combine it with a brisk 30-minute walk later in the day.
Every morning I drink a mug of hot water with a big slice of lemon.
I pop the water and lemon in a mug, leave it on the side and whilst I’m making the children’s school lunches, I let the lemon steep in the water.
This simple drink works wonders detoxing and cleansing your body and is great for hydrating your skin.
Some days I find myself eating lunch in the car on the way from one job to the next.
What I now do is prepare a healthy lunch the night before, such as a yummy salad with cottage cheese, tuna, peppers and tomatoes with chopped carrot/cucumber sticks and a big bottle of water.
I also leave a few forks and a packet of wet wipes in the side door of my car so I’m always prepared.
After a hectic day, I love nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath to sooth my aching body and relax. Johnson’s Baby Oil is an oldie but a goodie that you will find in any supermarket. Adding just two capfuls into a hot bath will work a treat to moisturise your tired skin, but make sure you tie your hair up first as if the oil gets into your tresses, it will take a few shampoos to get it out!
Also remember to rinse out the bath properly afterwards to avoid any slips. The oil can also be lightly rubbed directly onto your body – particularly the knees, elbows, legs and arms – to prepare your skin for the summer ahead, or if your feet need some TLC, remove old nail varnish, trim and file nails, rub in a little oil and pop on a pair of cotton socks before bed to let it work its magic overnight.
Speaking of getting summer-ready, Garnier Summer Body Light Moisturizer Sun Kissed Look is a winner product. Available from stockists including www.boots.ie for €7.99, this moisturiser is easily applied and can be used daily after your shower to give your pale winter skin a very natural, radiant gradual tan.
It’s non-greasy and the camomile and apricot extracts smell so nice and will leave the skin soft and supple. Always wash your hands after application.
I always look and feel better after I have popped on some bright lipstick and if you have never done this, take courage and go for a brighter shade than you’re used to.
Elizabeth Arden have produced the most divine ‘Pink Punch’ limited edition lipstick (left) with all proceeds from sales to go directly towards achieving gender equality across the globe, which is a wonderful thing. All of Elizabeth Arden’s Beautiful Colour lipsticks range are moisturising, highly pigmented and fade-resistant. Their matte formula glides across your lips for a silky-smooth, long-lasting finish, and at €26, it’s another affordable find for you.
Finally, for me, a feel-good treat is to have a facial. Guinot have just brought out a new Lift Summum facial, so last month I headed off to Elegant Lady Beauty Salon in Edenderry and enjoyed the most deluxe 50-minute facial: a combination of exfoliation, relaxing massage, face and neck mask and wrinkle eraser. I was delighted with the effects. The following morning my face looked brighter and firmer, especially my jaw and neck area.
For best results, Guinot advise the Lift Summum facial needs to be a three-course treatment: one a week for three weeks. It costs €80 per treatment and if you do book up the course of three, you will get a free €40 Crème Derma Liss face cream. This tube of nourishing face cream/primer has a tint so it can be worn on its own or underneath your foundation. It will also help fill in any fine lines or open pores whilst moisturising the skin.
To find the nearest Guinot salon to you, click here but note that prices may vary slightly as each salon will have their own specifically tailored Guinot beauty packages on special.
So ladies, as my mother always used to say to my sisters and I, ‘Happy girls are the prettiest’. I hope you all take a little time out to treat yourselves.
Read more
Dolly Buckley: How to look and feel great in 2019
A beauty-ful Christmas cracker
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