A Winter Glow-Up In 5 Simple Steps
When I looked in the mirror a few weeks ago one thing was clear…I desperately needed a winter glow up.
But where to start? From the outside in, or the inside out. Or both?
Below I outline the 5 quick and easy steps that I took to get a winter glow up under way!
I’m not promising miracles and my guess is that no-one else even noticed - but that’s not what’s important is it? It’s how we feel about ourselves that really matters.
Hair colour
My hair colour had to change. I just didn’t like what it had become over time - grey/blonde…blonde/grey? I wasn’t really sure . I just knew that on photographs my head looked like a snowball. And so, armed with a photograph of Jo Whiley, I went along to my hairdresser and asked for the same colour.
The result? I am now a definite blonde - and I love it.
Part 1 of the winter glow up was complete!
2. Fake Tan
There was no denying it, I was pasty looking. My summer glow (of sorts) had left the building. Something needed to be done. Hello St Tropez fake tanning mist.
I LOVE this product. It’s so fine that you can just spray it directly onto your face and neck and not touch it. After spraying, I go straight to bed. Within 48 hours I had a much healther glow about me, which I felt made all the difference. The St Tropez fake tanning mist is available from Superdrug for £15.98
Part 2 of the winter glow up was complete.
3. Collagen
That skin wasn’t going to plump itself now was it? I’ve dabbled with collagen in the past and had also read plenty about it. Then after coming across Absolute Collagen, I decided to give it a go.
I must admit I’m not as disciplined in taking my collagen as I should be. I need to develop better habits around it. Not having it tucked away in a cupboard might be a good start!
The collagen is a work in progress but nonetheless, that’s a positive step taken. Part 3 of the winter glow up was under way.
4. Skin Care
It was time to commit to just one skincare brand.
To be honest, I’m never quite convinced that the premium brands are worth the extra money. Are we just paying for the rent in Selfridges, the fancy packaging and the A-listers who promote the products?
After much research, Instagram polls and (most importantly) advice from the 16 year old, I decided to go with “the Ordinary”. They had a good anti-ageing range, didn’t break the bank and ticked the other boxes I wanted to tick.
I’ve been using the products for about 6 weeks now and am very happy with the results. My skin is smooth and clear. The products aren’t over perfumed so there’s no risk of a headache and because they’re not over priced, I’m happy to replace them when I’ve run out, which means I’m being consistent in what I use.
My favourite products are the “Scalene Cleanser” the “Multi-peptides copper peptide 1% serum” and a moisturiser called “Natural Moisturizing Factors - Phytoceramides.”
You can check The Ordinary out HERE
5. Botox
Those wrinkles weren’t going to go of their own accord either were they? And they seemed to be getting deeper by the day!
I’ve really grappled with botox over the years. I’ve had it and then gone without it (for months, or even years). Sometimes I feel as though I’m selling out by having botox. And then other times I just feel that a little assistance is needed.
Over thinking aside, the time felt right for me to dip my toe in the botox water again. It’s not that I want to look wrinkle free and ageless but neither do I want to look grumpy and miserable.
I’m delighted that I’m 54 and I’m over the moon that my eldest daughter is 25. How lucky am I? I want to look as though I’m old enough to have adult children and I don’t want to try and look like my daughter’s sister. That would be all kinds of wrong.
But….
Anyhow, I got in touch with my friend Emma Deacon (you can find her website HERE) went for a consultation, had some botox and gradually my lines have started to soften and blur.
So that was part 5 of the winter glow up under way.
Why Stop at 5?
Other things I am planning on trying out…
Skin pen is something I really want to try. I’ve heard that the results are fabulous. You can read more about skin pen HERE
A Victoria Beckham eye pencil. I’ve treated myself to one of these for Christmas as I’ve read such good things about them. You can take a look at them HERE
I’ve started ordering from Green Chef. There are parts of the concept that I love and parts that I’m not so fond of. I currently have a box delivered every 2 or 3 weeks. It makes keto cooking a little easier!
I’m looking at PEMF mats. Now these are less about a glow up and more about relaxation, meditation, mindfulness and so on - but it all comes out in how well we look - so I’ll just about let this one sneak in here.
And finally, I’m embracing the cold dark nights for what they can offer me. A good book and sleep. Plenty of it. We’re not meant to bloom and blossom and be “out” there all year round. This is a time for going inwards, resting, re-setting and getting ready to bloom again in the spring. Going with the flow is actually huge amounts of fun.
These are just ideas for glow up steps to take but yours might look very different from mine. In future posts I’ll be talking about what I’ve learned about myself and others from baking sourdough bread, what my spiritual practice looks like and why I decided to become an Amazon seller (I just won’t write about all of them at the same time!)
Have a super week,
Beth x