CONFIDENCE BOO(S)T WITH BOOTS #AD

I think it goes without saying that 2020 hasn't really been the year any of us mapped it out to be in our heads, has it? I'm sure back in December when we thought of those New Year resolutions and the year ahead of us, we didn't think that we'd be here in August with not very much to show for it. It's been hard, even for the best of us, I myself would be lying if I said it hasn't been a struggle at times. Before lock down, I'd never truly placed much emphasis on self care and if I'm honest I didn't understand the importance of it, surely we're always caring for ourselves as a natural part of day to day life? Wrong. Being forced to stay inside your house 23 hours a day for the best part of two months really makes you regain focus and pretty quickly I realised how important making time for yourself really was. It doesn't matter in what shape or form that may be.


Self care really doesn't mean a day out at the Spa, to be honest as a parent, self care is often five minutes alone in the bathroom without an interruption. It really can be whatever just gives you that little bit of 'you' back. I am a classic girly girl, so anything that pampers me, makes me feel like I've invested time in myself, which during lock down we had to take on a lot of our own beauty treatments didn't we? No nails, no eyebrows or lashes, no fake tan, all of these things that I really took for granted before, suddenly felt extremely luxurious and special to me. I remember the first time I sat and attempted to do my own nails a good couple of months into isolation, don't get me wrong, they weren't anywhere near what I was used to but they absolutely perked me up. It just felt like that little bit of me again, which I think is so beneficial for peoples mental well-being. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for people that weren't in a great place already let alone how easy it would be to slip into that mindset for those of us who was just bobbing along normally beforehand.

However tough this year has been though, I am glad it taught me when to sit back and focus on myself, I know what little things make me feel better now, and how such small changes do actually make a big impact on my day. Confidence definitely comes from the inside out and the better you take care of your mind, I truly think the better you'll feel in your own skin. For me tanning is a huge part of that, it doesn't matter what is really going on for me, if I've had a rubbish day, if I'm not feeling myself or even if I feel a bit under the weather, whenever I pop a little bit of tan on, I get an almost instant pick me up. I'm more me with a little glow and I'm definitely more confident. Bondi Sands is my go to, I find it reliable and I've never really had any of those 'fake tan disasters' you see people talking about, it's second nature to me now and within a few minutes I'm well on my way to being glowed up. In terms of fake tan for face, I was always a little nervous to apply it, because lets be honest there is no way of hiding that if it goes a bit south. But when lockdown hit and I had a nosy across the Boots website, I noticed fake tan face masks. Absolutely genius, especially for someone like me that sees tanning as part of my pamper routine, what else screams relaxation like a good old face mask? The results are perfect, just the ride shade of sun-kissed within a fifteen minute lie down session, I actually had to stop myself drifting off as my tanning routine is always right before I head off to bed for the night.

It really is imperative at the moment that we focus on doing what makes us tick, what perks us up and gives us that little boost. The future isn't always certain right now and I know so many people who are struggling, who can blame them. That's why it's more important than ever that we spend that little bit of time wherever it fits into your week, doing something to invest in yourself. Buy yourself flowers, binge watch reality tv or pop on a sheet mask with some cucumbers and get some shut eye - whatever makes you feel good about you.

*This post is an advertisement with Boots UK but as always, all thoughts are my own.