THE LOCK-DOWN BEAUTY EDIT: 5 BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT ARE MAKING ME SMILE DURING SELF-ISOLATION.

Wow - what a weird week and a half it's been, right? I always try to keep a level-head during crisis situations (not always easy as I suffer terribly from anxiety), but all the initial 'scare-mongering' relating to the Coronarvirus was something I was determined to ignore.

Now of course, the problem is very, very real and at this point, turning a blind eye to the situation won't do any of us any good.

Yep, things are pretty terrifying right now and as the entire UK population faces lock-down, continuing with life as we knew it just a fortnight ago is now impossible.

Can we nip out for a coffee with friends or family? Nope. Can we head into town for a new-season ZARA haul? Again, nope. All of a sudden, we are realising the value of every single one of those little luxuries we used to take for granted, and having the freedom to go out & do what we want is a far cry from our current realities.

But it's not all doom and gloom. And at a time like this, it's crucial that we hold onto all the things that we can do, and that will bring us joy during this strange & uncertain time.

For me, the Houseparty app has been a God-send as it's meant that I can communicate with family & friends easily, giving me that feeling of being close to them - even if not physically. Having our dog, Elvis, has brought us so much positivity, too. I love the fact that our pets are blissfully unaware of the current state of affairs, and that they're just grateful for all that extra time they get to spend with us. It's lovely!

And of course, another huge vice for me during this time is indulging in a good old pamper!

Setting a couple of hours aside every few days to focus solely on myself is really important to me, as it allows me to properly recuperate. I use this time to do things like have a long hot soak in the bath and apply a new set of gel nails - just anything that makes me feel good about myself!

So, for this blog post, I thought I would share some of the best beauty products that are keeping me looking and feeling fresh whilst in lock-down. I really hope you enjoy!

1. Elf Cosmetics Gentle Peeling Exfoliant

Not wearing a full face of makeup every day is helping leave my skin looking and feeling super fresh & healthy at the moment - but I still maintain the importance of following a strong skincare regime! So, if you've been lax with your skincare routine whilst in lock-down, then my advice would be to start ramping things up again and treating your complexion to the tender loving care it deserves.

One of my favourite skincare products at the moment - and one of the ones I've been using religiously twice a week during lock-down - is the Elf Cosmetics Gentle Peeling Exfoliant.

Exfoliating the face is essential as it allows us to slough away any grime or dead skin cells lurking on the surface of our skin. Frequent exfoliation helps to accelerate our skin's natural cell-renewal turnover, all whilst targeting signs of aging and a variety of other complexion complaints.

And this liquid exfoliator from Elf delivers fabulous results every single time. To use, all you have to do is massage one pump of product into the skin before rinsing away the residue with warm water. What I love about this product (besides the results) is the fact that you can actually see all the grime that it's lifted from the skin - it's so satisfying! And my skin always looks & feels beautiful afterwards. Winner!

My lock-down beauty essentials

2. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Body Oil

In my opinion, this really is the best body oil ever. It's always been a firm favourite of mine - but now that I'm pregnant, I love it even more.

I know that stretch marks are absolutely nothing to be ashamed of & I think it's wonderful that so many expectant women now embrace their tiger stripes, but personally, I'd like to avoid getting stretch marks if at all possible - and I'm finding that this gorgeous body oil is most certainly doing the trick!

Despite being 22 weeks pregnant at this point, my bump still isn't huge, so it's likely that I wouldn't have stretch marks now in any case. However, if I can keep my skin looking and feeling lovely as it stretches to accommodate my growing baby boy, then I absolutely will do!

To reiterate the above points, I would like to clarify that stretch marks are, for many women, an inevitable part of being pregnant & something that they truly embrace - which I think is great! It's so important that we love & respect our bodies at all times, particularly when they're performing such an incredible job. Body positivity is so important.

3. The Ordinary 100% Plant Derived Squalane

Another one of my self-isolation skincare saviours has to be this beautiful facial oil from The Ordinary.

At a price to suit every pocket, this super-affordable skin oil remains one of my best skincare discoveries to date, and it's one of those that I'll always go back to.

For best results, I apply this product after cleansing & toning both in the morning and the evening. I find that it helps keep my skin looking smooth, supple & radiant.

The products that are keeping me looking & feeling fresh whilst in lock-down

4. Garnier Argain Oil Face Mist

Keeping the skin moisturised is so important when seeking a fresh, youthful complexion, and one of the best ways to instantly inject moisture into the skin is by using a face mist.

Face mists are definitely one of my favourite ever beauty products - I always have one in my handbag! And I've tried tons over the years, too, so you could say I'm a seasoned facial mist expert. Be sure to check out my blog post 'Why Every Woman Needs A Face Mist' for a list of some of the best face mists!

At the moment, though, my favourite has to be the Garnier Argan Oil Face Mist. At less than £6 for 150ML, this product is super affordable & it lasts for absolutely ages. I re-spray my face at least half a dozen times throughout the day to keep my skin looking/feeling fresh, and I've had my current bottle for over 2 months.

This is a wonderful product all-round, and the argan oil is great for getting that immediate hit of moisture.

5. NYX #ThisIsEverything Lip Oil

With the exception of a bit of tinted moisturiser and my Stila Illuminating HD Beauty Balm, I'm not bothering much with makeup at the minute. After all, this really is the perfect time to take a break and allow our skin to properly breathe.

With that said, there are a few products that I'm still using, and one of the ones I'm relying on/loving the most has to be my trusty NYX Lip Oil.

I apply my lip oil five or six times a day just to keep my lips looking plumped-up and feeling super nourished. I love the fact that this product looks like a gloss when applied to the lips, but as it's an oil formula, you don't get that annoying sticky texture that comes with wearing lip gloss. It's the best of both worlds!

So there you have it, my must-have lock-down beauty products!

What beauty products are you relying on most right now? Have you started using anything new whilst self-isolating? And where are you ordering your beauty products from at the moment?! Please do let me know in the comments box below.

I hope you're all keeping well & am sending positive vibes to you all during this peculiar time. Together, we can get through this!

Lots of love & best wishes,
Grace x