22 products to help you on your self-care journey
| 7th January 2022
Hello 2022! Now I don’t know about you but this year I feel invigorated: One of my new year’s resolutions is to take more time out for myself and indulge in some serious self-care.
For me, that means dedicating a few hours a week to try and better my mental health, get on top of my physical health and of course learn to better relax and unwind to better manage the daily toll life can take.
After much research, I wanted to share with our VIVA readers some products that can really help on yours (and my) journey to self-discovery.
The first product I want to share, is the Infrared PEMF Go Mat from Higher Dose. I am a big fan of this brand, and I find their newest offering totally fascinating. PEMF works by grounding you in the earth’s magnetic field for a full body reset. The Infrared’s works by supplying a deeply penetrating heat which doubles your dose. This mat is great for those who experience chronic pain or for a post workout recovery.
Since working from home, I have developed pelvic problems which can be rather debilitating, I struggled especially in my third trimester of pregnancy. This PEMF mat helps loosen the muscles surrounding my pelvis and helps to relief my pain naturally enabling me to sleep better and recover a lot quicker too!
January seems to be the month that a lot of people want to focus on their health and wellbeing. Gut health is massively important and live gut bacteria contribute to a whole range of basic physiological functions including our immune function, digestion and even our hormone production! For a gut restart, try Gut Biome Zooki.
Cutting sugar is a great way to increase your energy, enhance your mood and mental clarity. It’s also great if you are looking to lose a few holiday pounds! If you are a fizzy drink fiend, like I seem to be at the moment (pregnancy cravings have truly kicked in) than DrinkMate is a great gadget and potentially your new best friend. Think of DrinkMate as an upgraded and upmarket soda stream. With DrinkMate you have the opportunity to make everything sparkle! From cocktails to cordials and everything in between. With DrinkMate you can use cordials or fruit juices instead of the sugary syrup counterparts for a sugar free fizz that will kerb your sugar cravings.
When it comes to getting a better night’s sleep, a nice hot bath always goes a long way for me. The Lavender and Avocado Oil CBD bath bomb from Mindful Extracts relaxes all the senses. The smell of lavender engulfs the bathroom whilst the avocado oil softens the skin and makes for an incredibly relaxing bath environment.
A good night’s sleep requires a good bed linen – something I have only learnt in the past year or so. Good quality bedding makes the world of difference when it comes to my sleep. I recently came across This is Linen bedding, a soft linen which not only feels great, but looks fab too. I recommend the bundle which includes, pillowcases, duvet cover and fitted sheet for optimum comfort.
Creating the right bedroom ambience really is key to relaxing and unwinding. I like my bedroom to feel like a spa. Low warm lighting works really helps to set the scene, the calm society has a great range of candles and essential oils to help get you in the right mood. My favourite scent is their sleep range – a lavender, orange, eucalyptus and cedarwood blend.
I have even come across a brand of candles made specifically for men, Candles for Chaps have a range of “man scents” including a scent named Grand Tourer, which is supposed to make you feel as though you’re in the leather bucket seats of a Series 1 Jaguar E-type. I personally don’t get it, but the men in my life that have smelt it have been drawn to it, each to their own I suppose!
I am a big fan of essential oils and I have been for a while now. I swear by my ceramic diffuser by Alexandra Kay. I love making my own oil blends based on my moods. Lavender is great to aid sleep, and tea tree and peppermint are great scents when you are feeling slightly under the weather or want a fresher smell. I’ve recommended essential oil diffusers to all my friends and family – they make great gifts too.
If you struggle to unwind at night, Holistic Impact have a great CBD oil. A couple of drops under the tongue before bed will help you to drift off into a deep slumber, giving you extra energy and brain power to start your day right the following morning.
I have to admit, myself and my partner both love a self-care Sunday. Most Sunday evenings we find a good series or film to watch, and sit in bed with a sheet mask each, giving our skin some much needed TLC, it’s a great way to unwind after a busy week and weekend.
Skincare is something I do tend to neglect at times so dedicating a day (or evening) to concentrate on my skin really does go a long way. One of my resolutions this year is to get on top of my skincare routine and maintain some consistency. I recently started using the PMD clean pro in rose quartz and it’s been an absolute god send. With a cleansing brush on one side and a rose quartz polishing stone on the other it is a must-have tool to cleanse and moisturise. My skin has never felt softer, or cleaner! I use my PMD machine with Husk & Seed cleansing balm and face oils.
Now that I’m firmly in my thirties, I have noticed that my skin is beginning to show signs of age. To combat the aging process, I have recently started using the Silk’n FaceTite machine. This handheld machine specialises in high frequency waves which helps to promote collagen. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, and it is this process that leads to less elasticity in the skin and ultimately is the cause of wrinkles.
Lately I have found that it is not just my skin that has been requiring some extra TLC, but my hair has really been suffering as of late. I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy hormones or the colder weather drying out my hair – or perhaps a mixture of both? But I am so thrilled to have found the solution.
I want to start by proclaiming that Hola Coco is the best conditioner I have EVER used and I cannot recommend the Coconut oil hair mask enough. I love the feel of my hair every time I use this. My hair has gone from dry and brittle to super soft and sleek. The winning combination for me is when I use the Hola Coco hair mask before bed and then sleep on their mulberry silk pillowcase which has been designed to minimise frizz.
If you have been on your feet all day, a perfect excuse to put your feet up (literally) is the My Footner Exfoliating Socks. For soft and smoother feet, Footner exfoliating socks naturally peels away any hard and dry skin, leaving your feet soft and supple and ready for the perfect pedicure.
When I think of self-care, I always visualise a nice warm bath. I find my bath times to be sacred me-times. A way to relax and unwind and switch off my brain for at least half an hour or so. I was recently gifted the Gruum relaxing pamper set, which I took away with me to the Lake District over the Christmas period. We had an incredible bathroom suite which featured a freestanding clawfoot tub, which I used every night with the Gruum Lavender and Chamomile bath salts which formed part of the set. I have to say I highly recommend both the tub and the pamper set!
As I nearer the end of pregnancy I have been focusing a lot on meditation techniques to help with my breathing, which will come in so useful in labour. To do this I have been using the Mindshine app, which I listen to in the bath, available on both android and apple. They even have a great new year’s reboot camp for January with 5 days of exercises to help you start the year right.
Self-care isn’t just about a good bath and pamper session. It’s important to take note of our mental health too. Life brings with it many stresses and struggles, and I know I can be guilty of letting things build up inside and not acknowledging my mental health, and generally letting things get on top of me. I have recently been reading PS I Love Me by Gina Swire, a self-discovery book that helps you to understand and combat your inner negativity.
If you are looking to change to a more positive mindset this year, Brave and Brilliant have come up with a unique set of positive affirmation cards. These cards have been designed to give you that little pick-me-up, uplifting message or to help you feel more empowered and ready to take on the day.
For those that believe in the power of stones and meditation, did you know that the Malachite stone has been known to help and empower the wearer to embrace the responsibility for their own actions, thoughts and feelings, helping them to not only understand them but also hold power over them? FindTranquillity have a beautiful range of jewellery, including 18ct plated gold necklaces adjourned with a rich green Malachite stone.
If you would like to stay on track with your mental health and wellbeing, I would recommend investing in a wellbeing journal. I have one from Lovendu which I use to track my moods and to help keep me on the right path, looking ahead towards my goals. My downfall has always been consistency. I tend to jump on and off bandwagons a lot, so I find using a daily journal really helps to get me into a routine.
Another great product I have come across is a subscription box called BlissBox. Every 3 months you will be sent a box which contains self-care gifts handmade from small UK businesses, self-care tips, quote cards and weekly emails giving you support, encouragement and inspiration. What better way to be reminded to take some time for yourself than a box filled with all the tools you need?