Today’s blog post has been incredibly fun as I had the chance to get up close and personal, answering some of your questions about life outside of skincare! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen me invite questions on any topic you please!
With my YouTube channel, the clinic and of course my skincare line, I’m forever thankful and appreciative of being part of this knowledgable and supportive community! I get sent a LOT of non-skincare questions so this was long over-due and an opportunity to learn more about me. I hope you enjoy reading!
How do you organise your day?
My morning routine is very important and if it’s not set up in the right way, my day just doesn’t flow in the same way. An ideal start to my day begins with 20 minutes of meditation by world-renowned researcher, Dr Joe Dispenza. His meditations focus on unwiring what's in your subconscious mind that might not be serving you and replacing it with new neural pathways to create new patterns and new behaviours that help you fulfil your potential and ultimately live a happier life. y.
I then shower and always finish with a 30-second cold blast. It’s terrifying but is a great way to reset your nervous system, which is great for your mood.
I then feed my cats, Ginger and Hector, as they’ll probably be squawking at me by this point. I have a cup of decaf coffee as I quit caffeine about a year ago. It’s made such a difference to my ability to concentrate and also to get to sleep at night.
I’ll sip on my coffee while completing my High-Performance Planner by Brendon Burchard, which is a really well-structured journal for planning out my day. It helps keep me on track and makes sure I get everything done.
Breakfast is typically either yoghurt, berries and nuts or avocado on toasted rye bread. I have quite a high metabolism, so I need to eat quite a lot and quite frequently so I don't get cranky!
Sometimes I'll do yoga first thing in the morning, but I typically exercise at the end of the day to unwind. With my routine completed, I arrive at work firing in all the cylinders and in a really positive, upbeat mood.
How do you eat healthily with a demanding schedule?
Judging from my Deliveroo account, I would say that I eat healthily 80% of the time! For me, that means trying my best to eat from scratch and avoiding anything pre-prepared. I always aim to get five portions of fruit and vegetables in during the day. One of my most-viewed YouTube videos is about what to eat for glowing skin - it’s worth checking out my blog on this if you want to delve into what I recommend for skin health a bit deeper.
I try to regularly eat blueberries, apples, carrots, avocado, sweet potatoes and leafy greens. Tomatoes are also fantastic as they're full of lycopene, which is great for boosting your skin’s sun defenses.
I’m a fan of olive oil as it’s rich in vitamin E and a handful of nuts is my go-to snack as they’re so nutritionally dense.
If I do have a few dinners out in the week, it's not the end of the world because of the 80/20 rule but planning ahead is key. Having the right things in the fridge when you get home late from work is essential as otherwise, that’s the time when I’m most likely to succumb to a Deliveroo order!
Do you drive?
I’m embarrassed to say that I do not drive! I tried to take my test twice although it's a distant memory now. I was working in Norwich here in the UK and I thought it would be a great time to learn to drive but sadly my driving instructor did not agree! I passed the theory test with no issues as I'm quite good at tests but when I retook the practical exam again in London, I failed. So no, I do not drive and I don't quite know when I'm going to get round to rectifying that - maybe one day?!
How do you like your tea?
Tea is the one drink I cannot drink decaffeinated. If I'm having a cup of tea, I will have a proper cup of Twinings - either their English Breakfast or Everyday tea. If I'm having a naughty piece of cake in the afternoon, then I like Assam tea. Perhaps it’s an Irish thing but I am very particular about my tea-making method. I like to pour boiling water over the teabag for at least three to four minutes - it must percolate, and must never be squeezed! There is something about all of the tannins coming out which make the tea too bitter, so it needs to be lifted carefully out before adding just a dab of some good quality full-fat milk - and that's a very lovely cup of tea!
What is your favourite perfume?
My favourite perfume, which I’ve worn for nearly 15 years is Fracas by Robert Piguet. It's really heady and floral but with lovely warm notes. I absolutely adore it and I don't even think to flirt with other fragrances. Everyone that knows me, knows me by that scent and I don't see the habit changing anytime soon.
Any updates on your autumn/winter skincare and makeup products?
There are three new brands I really have been loving. Fellow YouTuber and uber-makeup artist Wayne Goss can do no wrong in my view and everything he produces is lovely. I use his nude lipsticks and lip- liners (I adore Lily and Medium Nude) and I really like his contouring palette, which is perfect for fair skin. He’s just a talented, wonderful human being.
Surratt is another brand that I love. Dew Drop Foundation is absolute perfection and I can't really be without it. It’s fragrance-free and has a lovely “real skin” finish. I’m also currently using their liquid liner in black, eyelash curlers and brow pomade.
Lastly, I love Kjaer Weis. They’re a beautiful, sustainable brand with stunning packaging which is deliciously weighty and feels instantly luxe. Their cream blushes are gorgeous, as are their lipsticks and lip pencils.
For skincare, I thankfully have unlimited access to my own brand! Formulating, efficacious products that also feel elegant to use is challenging but such a joy when they’re brought to life and I read your amazing feedback!
