Lockdown is not over, and so as we move to the 90 day milestone I thought I would share some of the things that have been making this time a little bit easier.  From skincare hacks, sanitizer staples, plant shops, aromatherapy, and sun protection, I've got a handful of green goodies I have been relying on the last months.

Before I jump into things, I want to make something clear - I acknowledge I have been pretty privileged during this time.  Yes, I lost my university job for 2020/2021, and yes I became furloughed for my other work, but we live in a house with a small garden and we do not have any immediate pressing financial worries.  Neither of us are in the at risk category, and we have been able to spend a lot of this time fully distanced from others with no severe consequences on our mental health or relationship.  Sure, we have had a lot of disappointments and stresses, from the wedding being cancelled until next year, my family no longer being able to come for the ceremony, Tim's mum isolated in a care home, and job uncertainties, but overall it has been a time where we both have been safe and secure.

I don't want anyone to think I take this likely, as I do not at all.  And for those of you who have been in more tumultuous circumstances, my heart goes out to you and I am around if you ever need a listening ear.

I've been feeling uninspired lately when it comes to creating content online, as there is just so much going on in the world and I've been maxed out in terms of anxiety.  However, I really wanted to put out something positive and light today, so I thought why not share what I have been turning to during lockdown.  I hope you enjoy, and maybe even get a few ideas for yourself!



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* This post contains some affiliate links and gifted products
No matter how I have received a product, whether it has been purchased with my own money, gifted by a brand, been subsidized by a brand, won, gifted by friends/family, or purchased with a gift voucher, my approach is always the same -- honesty, integrity, and highlighting both the good and the bad.  You can find more information on Disclosures and Privacy here.

The Rose Tree Energising Body Oil:

While of course this oil makes for a lovely body moisturizer, I have actually been loving it as an addition to my hand soap!  Despite my soap containing nourishing ingredients, since I've been washing so frequently my hands have definitely been a little worse for the wear in terms of softness and visual appearance.  So I got creative...

Back in late April I started to add a pump of The Rose Tree body oil to the lather I create, then wash as normal.  I find this has definitely helped soothe my irritated skin, ease the dryness, and has helped restore my hands so they are feeling much more smooth and supple!

The oil is very nourishing thanks to the combination of organic apricot, jojoba, argan, safflower, and sunflower oils - it's viscous, but not overly thick, making this a great product to add to a hand washing routine as it adds just enough to boost your experience.  Plus, the essential oils add a lovely radiant aroma to your skin - it's like a little aromatherapy treatment while you rinse away the day.  I don't know about you, but any extra joy I can add right now feels so special.  I really like that The Rose Tree helps add that little bit of positivity to an everyday occasion!

Spray Natural Hand Sanitizer:

I despise gloopy products, but when the pandemic hit I had to get some hand sanitizer fast.  We made the decision to do our grocery shops in person so as to not take delivery slots from those who truly needed them, and so having an effective virus protection on the go was a must.  Luckily I did not have to deal with thick wet formulas though, as I discovered a selection of all natural spray hand sanitizers!

One of my favourites is the lightweight and beautiful blue creation from Love Absolute - this Essential Hand Spray is a more luxurious formula, and I find myself using it when I get back to the house after washing my hands as it feels extra special and I don't want to waste a single drop.  The blend has a 72% alcohol base derived from organic sugar beets, plus hydrating glycerine and purifying and soothing essential oils like tea tree, lemongrass, and blue tansy.  It has such a lovely aroma - slightly sweet, light, not astringent at all, and super soothing, and I can feel my anxieties easing when I apply this sanitizer.  This is not your average product, and has been crafted to be a calming yet effective treatment by the incredibly talented founder Sarah.  I applaud this product, and will definitely be buying another bottle soon.

I also picked up several bottles of the Botanicals Sanitising Spritz, a tried and true staple of mine for several years now.  This hand mist utilizes the power of plants to boost the sanitizing properties of the 60% organic alcohol base.  With anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory lavender oil working in tandem with naturally anti-microbial and anti-viral tea tree, this trio really helps tackle all the nasties that build up on your hands from everything you touch.  Plus, it is pretty gentle for something that contains alcohol.  And another bonus about this product is that it isn't just for your hands!  You can spritz any cuts and scrapes on arms, legs and feet to help keep them clean and free from infection, or if you're smelling a little, well, less than fresh, you can use this as a temporary deodorant!  Perfect for both your health and all the noses around you.

Next on my list to try is the affordable and generously sized lavender Hand Cleanser Spray from Alteya Organics.  I'm a huge fan of the brand already, so I know this is a no nonsense sanitizer that will be great for on the go.  Every single time we come out of a shop both Tim and I thoroughly sanitize our hands, but we also spray down our reusable cups if we have them with us, and then when we get home I make sure to also sanitize my mobile phone too - I think this formula will be perfect for spritzing these items in particular!

House Plants:

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - plants have been a total game changer for me during this lockdown.  I have found so much peace and serenity in gardening, tending my indoor house plants, and in watching new leaves and flowers slowly unfurl.  There is such a sense of hope that comes from growing, and I have definitely embraced my love and admiration of plants this year.

I've bought seeds, plugs, and full plants from many small shops online, and while there has been the occasional mix up, I've always had a great overall experience.  You can find some of the services I have tried out since lockdown started in my Plant Power review, but I've discovered several more lovely businesses since then including:

Online Baby Plants - I adore baby plants, as I find it so rewarding to watch the little plug grow from a tiny wee thing into a strong and lush leafy friend.  This Netherlands based company specializes in little babies, but they do also carry larger pieces too - and all are super well priced!  I picked up a handful of wishlist plants in my first order, including a stunning Philodendron Hastatum Silver Sword, eye catching Alocasia Black Velvet, adorable Syngoniums, classic Pilea Peperomiodes, sleek Alocasia Zebrina, trailing Monstera Adansonii, and compact Maranta Amabilis mint.  The delivery took a bit longer than I expected, but everything was well watered for transit so there were no fatalities.  I did have a bit of a problem with a few of my babies having fallen out of their soil in transit, but the customer service team was so quick to respond and really helpful in sorting it out.  I definitely will be ordering again in future!

Root - Based in Liverpool, Root Houseplants is a superstar when it comes to fairly priced quality specimens - and I immediately became a fan when I found a wishlist plant back in early May.  Philodenron Birkin are so striking (and incredibly odd cultivar when you start to look into the background - but that's a story for another day perhaps!), but until recently they have been pretty tricky to find here in the UK.  Well, I scooped one of these lovelies up for under £15 thanks to Root, and I have been getting so much joy from all the new growth since!  It arrived perfectly packed with no plastic whatsoever, and the speed of delivery was brilliant.  I've been browsing their listings every week since then, and the amount of amazing plants that pop up is something to marvel at - I can't wait to make another purchase soon!

Leslie Terrance - I love shopping local, so of course I was thrilled to find Leslie Terrence.  Not only do they have brilliant prices and fantastic plants to choose from, but the owner Kerri is so kind, helpful, and truly innovative.  I mean, it takes a special kind of person to decide to make their house a base for all their shop stock (including 4000 plants!) during lockdown!!  I didn't know any of this before placing my first order, but after she sorted out a mix up with my maranta I was all the more impressed at the speed, quality, and assistance offered.  I can't wait to visit their physical shop when things settle down a bit, but until then I will continue supporting online and will definitely be picking up more plant friends to join the fam.

Ilapothecary Beat the Blues Room Spray:

This is so much more than a room spray.  I believe it is nature's magic in a bottle.

I was kindly gifted a bottle of this beauty back in December by Origins of Beauty, and I have been treating every single spritz as a precious treatment.  Ilapothecary has crafted a therapeutic sensation that banishes negative energy, lifts your mood, and eases anxieties all with a simple spray.  This is a potent blend, full of powerful essential oils like clary sage, rose geranium, petitgrain, and tuberose.  With underlying soft citrus notes from sweet orange oil and a heady quality that makes you feel like you are being embraced within a warm hug, the Beat the Blues Room Spray is truly a fragrance that needs to be experienced.

Seriously, it is no wonder that Demi Moore boasts about this beauty!  I can feel the tension start to leave my body as soon as the mist meets my nose.  The aromatics soothe my senses, and I cannot be more grateful for that.  I've been carrying a lot of extra stress in my mind and body the last few months, so to have a smell that immediately sparks a release when you breathe it in is such a gift.  Ilapothecary's spray is perfect for those whose emotions are in turmoil, who suffer from anxiety, or who are in need of balance - so basically all of us right now!

Gentle Natural Sunscreen:

Since lockdown began, I've been trying to get outdoors as much as possible so I don't go stir crazy.  We are so lucky to have some space out back, and I have been bringing out my yoga mat whenever it is warm or sunny so I can feel the breeze, listen to the bees, and just appreciate the little things.  However, I take the necessary precautions to protect my skin as even a single sun burn can increase a person's chance to develop cellular damage (or worse).  I have not had the best of luck with sun protection in the past, but last year I finally started to find formulas that work for me without breaking me out.  And thankfully this good fortune has continued!

I have been using Green People Organic Children Sun Lotion which is a scent free protection with SPF 30.  This is a formula suitable for sensitive skin, and I have found it really helps keep my skin calm and free from blemishes.  The product works as a shield against both UVA and UVB rays, and is water repellent as well making it a good pick for those with paddling pools (I wish we had one!).  I really like that it doesn't have a strong odor, plus it blends in super well.  This has a light tint to it, but once you massage it in you can't tell at all!  No white residue, no pink tones - just protected skin!  Just a heads up though: this does contain organic beeswax so is not vegan friendly.

Another formula I have been really impressed by is the Madara Plant Stem Cell Age Defying Sunscreen.  While the size of the bottle is a bit small, the results are great and I can't help but love this product.  The cream has a neutral tint to it (slightly on the beige side), but I find it rubs in and absorbs well so you don't have any visual tint left behind.  It's also surprisingly light weight - I thought that since this was an 'age defense' blend that it would be on the richer side, but instead I find it pretty comfortable to wear and not at all congesting.  The SPF 30 protection is perfect for everyday use, and I really appreciate that it also protects against pollution and helps regenerate the skin's microbiome.  This is a next level kind of sunscreen!

And of course I am a big fan of the Bio Damascena Rose Otto Face Sunscreen.  This does contain organic beeswax so is not vegan friendly. Many have mentioned that the plastic tube version of this is incredibly pink, and while I do find that the glass bottle formula has a definite tint to it at first, it blends out beautifully and leaves no obvious colouring behind.  However, this may be dependent on skin tone.  For Tim's more olive undertones and my super pale face it works like a dream though, and we are both happy with the performance overall.  It's not at all sticky or slick, and it does not break me out which is a huge plus.  The cream is medium bodied, adds a nice natural glow to my skin, and I never end up burned when using this!

Natural Sunscreen Swatch L-R: Green People, Madara, Alteya

Honestly I've been pairing a lot of things back since lockdown started - my skincare routine is more minimal, I wear some mascara and lipstick a few days a week, I am buying less...  I am trying to take things slow and just go one day at a time.

I know many don't want a 'new' normal and see lockdown as finished, but I am adjusting, trying to pick out the positives in this horrible situation, and most definitely do not view the pandemic as over.  I'll be making careful decisions about where to go, when to go, and how to proceed, as I want to ensure I protect both myself and Tim but also those around me.

No judgment to those who are confident about going for picnics, meeting up with friends for a barbecue, and venturing out across the country, but it is just not something I am planning on doing yet.  Even a quick socially distanced meet up had me concerned, though it was very much needed after three months of house life...  I am so anxious with the behavior I have seen in Norwich, and I do not want to be responsible for passing on this virus nor do I want to be a part of the chaos (both in terms of a public health crisis AND environmental crisis) that the "go out and shop" rhetoric caused.  Plus, I honestly LOVE online retailers and see no need to rush out to the high street where my anxiety will be maxed out seeing no one following the guidelines.

Every single one of my 'loves' in today's review came in the post either well before Covid-19 hit the UK or during the lockdown.  I have been able to show my support to small businesses, keep myself away from crowds, and discover some brilliant new products all from the safety of my house - how great is that??  I definitely appreciate what technology and modern services provide, and I think that going forward the world can learn a lot from this time.

Have you done any online shopping since lockdown began?  What products have you found yourself reaching for or finding tranquility in??  I would love to hear all about it, and maybe even learn about some new formulas, plant shops, or other fab finds you have been enjoying!  Feel free to share in the comments below xx