My Self Tanning Routine

I have experienced many years of fake tanning and tried loads of different products and techniques (quite a few dodgy ones at that). I have been using Bondi Sands for a few years now and I'd never go back to anything else. It's the only tan I've really proper loved and spend every last penny on.

I always prep the day before I want to tan. I hop in the shower, shave wherever needs to be shaved and then exfoliate my whole body to get rid of any dead skin cells. I either use a scrub from The Body Shop or one from Soap & Glory - both brands are great! If I have old tan on from the week before, I pump some of Bondi Sands self tan eraser onto an exfoliating glove and just go over my body which loosens the tan, then I lightly exfoliate over to remove the rest and then shave as normal. After drying myself off, I moisturise my whole body as I usually would after a normal shower.

Before applying my tan, I moisturise my chest, hands, elbows, knees, feet and ankles, just any areas that are dry and that tan would cling to. I do this about 20-30 minutes before I tan so it gives the moisturiser time to sink in. I've been switching between the Bondi Sands self tanning foam in light/medium and their dark foam. I used to use the dark tan all the time but because I'm so pale I had quite a few people say it looked too dark.

So I only now really use the dark one for an occasion or if I'm going out at the weekend (which is hardly ever!). The light/medium shade is the perfect colour for me, it gives me a healthy glow but nothing too drastic. I squirt two or three pumps onto a mitt and start at my feet and work my way up in circular motions. I usually have Liam about to tan my back for me, if not, I tie my mitt onto a clothes hanger with a hairband and reach around to my back, it works a treat!

 I'm not gonna lie, it does have a slight biscuity smell that everyone hates (apart from me), but it's not too overpowering like other tans on the market, you can also actually smell a twinge of coconut so it's not too bad.
Depending on what I'm doing on the day of tanning, I sometimes sleep in it or let it develop during the day. If I tan during the day, I leave it on for 3 or 4 hours and put on some loose, dark clothing. Or if I sleep in it, it's obviously left on for a longer amount of time, but to be honest it doesn't go that much darker.
When I wash it off, I don't use body wash I just rinse with the showerhead until the water runs clear. I then pat myself dry with a dark coloured towel.

I've never found the light/medium shade to have a noticeable fade, it actually fades out really nicely. Whereas the dark shade was a lot more noticeable. To maintain the tan, I very lightly exfoliate in the shower every few days. I also moisturise every day, especially my feet and hands. I have quite dry hands anyway, so I also use hand cream more often throughout the day too. In the summer I like to have more of a glow, so I tend to use the Bondi Sands Everyday Liquid Gold after a few days of applying my usual tan. It's a gradual tanning dry oil so it just boosts your tan and gives it a little refresh.

Are you a tanner? What do you use?

Six Ways To Keep Yourself Motivated During COVID-19

Oh hey, I haven't been around for about a month or so and honestly, I've missed it. 

I've missed my little space on the internet where I can escape and take my mind off of things, especially now with what's going on in the world.

I'm not going to lie, I have really been struggling but I know everybody else is in the same boat. So, I have put together a list of ways to keep yourself motivated and positive during this time.

I've put this on the top on my list for a reason. I feel like I can't get anything done if I'm lounging around in my pyjamas. Even if I get changed into joggers or leggings and a hoodie, I feel much more awake and motivated than sitting in my pyjamas that I've slept in all night.

 Exercise is so important. Not only does it help you sleep better, it improves your mood and relieves stress which is what I think we all need right now, oh and you'll have that summer bod ready! If you didn't do exercise before this global pandemic, now is a great time to get yourself into it! As I haven't been able to go to my ballet classes and boxing classes for a few weeks now, I've really been missing them.

So, as well as prancing around the kitchen in my ballet shoes, I've also been doing home workouts. Every other morning (I try every morning), I have been out in the garden to do a 30 minute workout. I usually follow Courtney Black's workouts, she's been doing them live every day on Instagram. Cassie from Blogilates on YouTube is also amazing! Luckily, there are so many PTs on Instagram and YouTube to follow at the moment. 

I've even dragged out the Wii Fit, I forgot how much I loved that!

We've been very lucky to have gorgeous weather at the moment which is why I've been getting fresh air pretty much every morning. It honestly makes me feel so much more positive and it's extremely important to get that Vitamin D. Even if you just open a window, it'll do the world of good.

We're so lucky in this day and age to have so many fantastic ways to communicate with people. Especially with what's going on in the world right now, it's crucial to check in on friends and family to make sure they're all doing ok and to see if they need anything. On top of the worries about COVID-19, I've also been stressing about our wedding in early September. I'm praying that it'll all blow over by then but it's just the unknown and having zero control that I've been stressed about. When I have felt down about it, so many close friends and family have been supporting me. Never bottle up how you feel! 

I'm one of those overly-organised people, like when they have an idea they need to do it there and then. For example, changing the layout of the bedroom or redecorating the house - I get excited about ideas and like to get stuff done. I've found that putting together a weekly schedule has really helped me spread things out and actually get other things done as well as stopping my brain from going into overdrive.

I've had to take a few breaks now and then mainly from Twitter and Facebook. All the news, rumours and stories have been too much for me and I instantly go from being in a great mood to an anxious mess and admittedly, I've cried a number of times. 

Whether you delete an app or turn off your phone for a few hours, it's good to take a break.

I hope you've found at least a couple of things on this list helpful.

Take care of yourselves.

x

What I've Been Watching On Netflix Recently

Liam and I have been obsessed with Netflix at the moment. I feel like there has been so much great stuff on there, I had to share our recent watches with you. We still have lots left on our list to get through too.

This reality series is about individual volunteers going undercover as prisoners in a jail in Indiana for 60 days without inmates or staff knowing.

It is a really interesting documentary, learning about seven very different, innocent people volunteering to leave their families behind and experience life behind bars. 

This film is fairly new on Netflix and man is it good! After watching it, I've literally recommended it to everyone. 

After Grace's ex moves on with somebody else and her son moves away, with the help of her best friend, Grace meets the man of her dreams. However, not too long after marrying her love, she's shut in a cell awaiting trial for his murder.

I can't explain much without going into too much detail but it's definitely worth a watch.

Again, this series is recent to Netflix. Liam and I actually watched this whole series in less than 12 hours.

A mother and her three kids move back into their ancestral house after the murder of their husband/father. In this home, they discover multiple magical keys which they use to open different doors. The three siblings have to protect these keys from an evil creature who wants them.

I actually found the first episode of this series very slow and hard to get into. However, stick to it as it's worth the watch.

A father of two boys randomly comes across a stranger one day, to which the stranger tells him a shocking secret about his wife. This father gets caught in a mystery and desperately searches for answers.

The ending will surprise you and it won't be what you expect. But overall, it's a really decent series.

Let's be honest, I probably don't need to go into too much detail with this one. I feel like since the most recent series has aired, (series 2), everyone has watched it. 

A man stalks as well as use social media to gain information about a certain woman to get close to her. He soon becomes obsessed and 'strange', keeps items that doesn't belong to him and gets rid of anything and anyone in his path.

Have you seen any of my recent watches? What are your opinions?

Three Base Picks From Revlon

Revlon has to be my favourite drugstore makeup brand, hands down. No matter what, I always seem to get on with their products.
I only realised, when editing the photos for this post, that all three products are from the colorstay range. This post is definitely not sponsored, haha.

First up is the Revlon Colorstay combination/oily foundation. I'm sure I've written about this little gem on my blog before. In the winter months, I always get it in the shade 'buff' as it's the perfect colour for me. It's just your typical drugstore foundation. It doesn't go patchy throughout the day and it really keeps my oily T-zone under control.

Next is the Revlon Colorstay concealer. This is on the list of my top favourite concealers I've owned. I think this is a very close second to the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define coming first.
Colorstay does settle into the fine lines under my eyes, but with a damp beauty blender and after setting it with powder, all is good.

Talking of setting powder, this is my third base fave. This is in 'light' or I sometimes buy the 'translucent' one - depends what I'm feeling, y'know. You don't need a lot of product to cover the whole face. It sets everything in place without it going patchy or looking like there's product build-up.

The clues in the name of all of these products. They don't really budge at all. Sometimes I need to touch up a few areas with my pressed powder but hardly ever and it depends what I'm doing to have to touch it up.