As I write this, the wind is howling against my windows and rain is pouring down, yet I feel perfectly warm and content, curled up under a blanket with a flickering candle nearby. If there were a season that embodied pure bliss, it would undoubtedly be autumn. But with that warm, fuzzy feeling comes a tendency to get lazy—after all, who wants to follow an extensive beauty routine when chunky wool sweaters can hide so many flaws? This year, I’m determined not to hibernate. Instead, I’ll give my skin, body, and hair the care they truly need, rather than rushing to the salon come spring and begging for forgiveness.
Take Care of My Hair This means something different to everyone, but this cold season I’ve promised myself to deep-condition weekly and give my hair a break from those convenient but damaging top knots that aren’t great for my hairline. It might be ambitious, but instead of constantly postponing salon visits, I’ll pre-book appointments every two months and get professional trims and treatments exactly when needed.
Take Supplements I’ll be the first to admit my diet isn’t great—I’m working on it, but it’s not something I can fix overnight. As a result, I don’t always get all the nutrients (I’m vain enough to only focus on those that improve hair and nails) from food. The easiest solution is taking the right supplements, but when you’re always on the go, that’s easier said than done. Like meal prep, I’ve started bulk-preparing my vitamins and setting a phone alarm so I have no excuse to forget.
Not Neglect My Feet Every autumn and winter, I start with the best intentions: slathering my feet in heavy-duty moisturizer every night to prevent cracked skin and promising myself weekly pedicures. A few weeks later, I end up with Hobbit-like feet because I got lazy. Well, hopefully not this year—I’ve tricked myself into making the process more enjoyable with two little words: nail art. Each week I head to YouTube to learn a new nail design, which makes the whole routine much more fun. As for moisturizing the neglected parts of my body, a slightly passive-aggressive Post-It note on my bathroom mirror does the trick.
Explore New Candle Brands Sorry, Diptyque—it’s not you, it’s me. Well, mostly me, but the fact that your candles cost over £40 each makes this breakup a little easier. Candles are indulgent, but unlike skincare, they don’t add much to my life. Sure, they brighten a room in more ways than one, but realistically I should spend my money elsewhere. I’ll probably never give up scented candles (and who could blame me?), but over the coming months I want to explore more affordable and lesser-known brands. Maybe I’ll report back in a few weeks?
The Almighty Clear Out I’m a hoarder—I keep makeup far longer than I should, not because I use it, but because I seem to grow more sentimental with age. I mean, I still have a pan of MAC Stereo Rose from 2009—that must be growing new life by now. In the next few weeks, I’ll be ruthless and keep only what I need and use. Who knows what I’ll discover in the process? I also think it’s time to adopt the “one in, five out” rule, since my spending habits have gotten a bit excessive. By doing this, I only buy what I truly need or want, which makes me less impulsive.
Of course, I’ll also add regularly washing my makeup brushes to this list—and probably underline it several times. I mean, is it really a beauty to-do list if brush cleansing isn’t on there somewhere?
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