Elenique Skin Clinic Virtual Consultation

If you’re looking to overhaul your skincare routine during self-isolation, before you do anything... book a virtual consultation with the amazing Elenique Skin Clinic. Featured by Vanity Fair as one of London’s top facialists, their video consultation will advise you on your skin type, cover any concerns you have about your skin condition and suggest suitable skincare products for you. Consultation fee via video call is £25 for 45 minutes and can be booked by Instagram message, email or simply calling 02036374549. Staying in never looked so good!

Van Zee Clean Beauty Makeup Masterclass

If you’ve been thinking about joining the clean beauty movement, now is the time to jump on board that bandwagon. Avoid greenwashing with the help of esteemed makeup artist and sustainable beauty expert, Nat van Zee. In your one-to-one beauty chat she’ll talk you through what plant-based products will work for you, which are worth spending your pennies on, and most importantly, whether they are indeed ethical. Just fill her in on your current beauty routine, skin type, ethos and budget and she’ll cherry-pick products to match, helping you save time, money and product waste.

Chanel Virtual Makeover

“Chanel Try On” is a virtual beauty experience that allows customers to trial their latest lipstick shades and determine which is best suited to their complexion. Just select the colour and texture you want, point the camera at yourself — and using AI technology you'll be able to suss out your perfect shade. A fun way to spend 20 minutes… Pouting strictly optional.

FaceGym Digital Workouts

FaceGym is the cult gym studio for your face – where “Personal Trainers” aka facialists perform a range of workouts and employ the latest cutting-edge technology and high-performance skincare products to lift, sculpt, tone and tighten facial muscles. In their new digital classes, your “Personal Trainer” will teach you FaceGym’s signature sculpting techniques. The benefits? It stimulates circulation and improves lymphatic drainage to leave skin glowing. The full appointment time is 45 minutes, which includes consultation and training for £45.

Earl Of East Candle Making Workshop

Get crafty and whip up a homemade soy candle with the expert tutelage of Earl of East. The Hackney-based home fragrance brand is offering virtual workshops to echo the classic candle making sessions held in their studios. During the online class attendees will join one of Earl of East’s expert candle makers via Zoom. Then as a team they will be guided step-by-step through the candle making process. Prior to the workshop, you’ll receive a personalised candle making kit, containing all of the core materials and equipment needed to make their scented soy wax candle. #StayHomeWithEarl

Wolf Sister Session

From Tarot readings to Reiki and crystal healing, Wolf Sister is bringing her spiritual senses to your quarantine. Instagram’s favourite mystic, Tamara Driessen is offering virtual one-to-one sessions via Zoom— with different topics to choose from. Time to realign your chakras and find some zen in this mad world. Or why not buy a gift voucher for a friend’s birthday?

Re:Mind Studio

Since 2018, the Re:Mind Studio in Eccleston Yard has been holding drop-in meditation classes for stressed-out city dwellers. But due to the coronavirus outbreak, the studio is now operating on a strictly virtual basis. Try everything from shamanic healing and sound baths to tea ceremonies and reiki from the comfort of your own home. Each class is limited to 14 attendees as they would be IRL, and the studio also offers one-to-one private classes via Zoom.

Wild Meditations by Wild Source

The natural skincare company Wild Source Apothecary are launching a series of “Wild Meditations” which can be accessed for free via their IGTV channel and website. This includes everything from stress busting sessions to Root Chakra yoga flow. To coincide with this new initiative, they have also launched beautiful at home Ritual Kits— each complete with their own meditation practices— to encourage their community to nourish their bodies, mind and skin during this stressful time.

Meditation Classes with Levitate London

Levitate is a new kind of meditation studio designed to help city folk unwind and de-stress. Everything they do aims to demystify meditation and make it relevant for the real world, by combining it with the latest neuroscience. Currently classes and private consultations are offered over Zoom video conferencing. FYI they also have a podcast which you can listen to here between sessions, and classes are free to NHS staff and key workers.

Make your own detoxifying sheet face mask!

You’ll need:

• Oats to exfoliate the face

• Milk

• Green Tea (full of Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E)

• A plain soft cotton sheet mask— these can be purchased online here or made using paper towels/old flannel and cutting out the mouth and eye holes.

How to:

1. In a bowl, mix together equal parts of the oats, milk and green tea powder

2. Whisk the formula together until it’s all blended nicely

3. Dip your plain sheet mask into the bowl until it is fully soaked up the formula

4. Remove the mask from the bowl and squeeze any excess liquid out until mask is no longer dripping product

5. Place it over your face and leave on for 20 minutes before it washing off. Voila!

Make your own face mask for dull and dry skin!

You’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt — contains lactic acid which helps soften your skin and probiotics to soothe inflammation

• 1 teaspoon oatmeal

• 1 teaspoon honey

• Optional: add in half a mashed banana for additional moisturisation

How to:

1. In a bowl, mix up the three ingredients together

2. Stir the formula together until it’s all blended together

3. Apply it to clean skin on your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes.

4. Rinse off with warm water.

THE FLAWLESS MANI

How to pull off a nail-bar worthy mani

You’ll need:

• nail polish remover

• nail file / clippers

• cuticle pusher

• cuticle oil

• hand cream

• cotton pads

• small bowl filled with warm water

• a dry flannel

• clear top coat

How to:

1. Using a cotton pad, remove any existing polish on your nails

2. File your nails using a soft filing board, moving in only one direction. Hold the file flat against the nail tip while filing. Use a nail clipper on any nails that need extra attention

3. Fill up a small bowl with warm water to soften your cuticles

4. Apply a drop of cuticle oil to each nail (such as this vitamin-rich apricot one by Cowshed). Massage it in and then gently push down your cuticles using a cuticle pusher

5. Give yourself a hand massage using a liberal amount of hand cream. You deserve it.

6. When you are ready to start painting, ensure your nails are both clean and dry. At this point you could apply a base coat

7. Add your chosen nail polish in layers— apply the first coat and let it dry completely before applying the second coat. In one smooth motion, move the brush across the center of the nail, from cuticle to tip. Then swipe it along the left and right side

8. Put some nail polish remover on a cotton bud or pad and wipe around the nail to clean up the edges

9. Apply a top coat to maintain your manicure longer. Put a swipe of top coat on the outer tip of your nail to preserve the lacquer

10. Repeat with the hand cream to finish

SILKY avo HAIR MASK

How to whip up a nourishing hair mask

You’ll need:

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/2 ripe avocado

• 2 tbsp. olive oil or coconut oil

• 1 tbsp. honey

How to:

1. In a bowl, blend or stir the ingredients until a smooth paste forms

2. Apply to damp hair

3. Note: the honey may seem sticky, but it’s a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture from the air and locks into hair for added hydration

4. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes

5. Rinse out the mask in the shower, then shampoo and condition as normal. If you feel that your hair looks oily after shampooing, repeat your shampooing to get the mask fully out

DIY WAXING

How to achieve a beauty spa-worthy leg wax

Soft wax is the best option for larger areas of the body like the legs and arms. It requires wax strips or cloths for removal.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup white granulated sugar

• 1 tbsp. lemon juice

• 1/4 cup honey

• Cut up strips of muslin cloth

How to:

1. Melt the sugar in a pan over medium heat

2. Once the sugar has caramelised, slowly add lemon juice and honey

3. Your wax should be the consistency of batter. If the wax is too thick, add a small amount of water and stir

4. Clean the skin of any dirt to make sure that the wax adheres fully to the hair

5. Gently exfoliate to remove dead skin

6. Wax should always be applied in the direction of the hair growth and pulled off in the opposite direction. Hair should be roughly 1/2 inch or longer for the best results

7. Always test the wax to ensure it isn’t too hot before applying to your skin

8. Apply muslin cloth strip onto the skin and lift off in the opposite direction to the hair growth

9. Repeat until area is waxed

10. A dab of coconut oil can be used to moisturise and remove any remaining wax left on the skin

FACE MASSAGE

“They see me rollin’” : Give yourself a rose quartz face massage

According to celebrity facialist Sarah Chapman, integrating massage sessions into your skincare routine is a must. 'Regular use brightens, tightens, drains toxins and reduces puffiness by boosting the supply of vital nutrients and oxygen to your skin, giving you that immediate, fresh glow,' she says. If you’re new to the roller game, opt for an affordable rose-quartz one from Scilla Rose. which comes complete with a handy, fool-proof guide on how to use it most effectively. When you’ve mastered the roller, try their gua sha facial scraper to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue and increase blood flow. Simply apply some massage oil to your skin, and then use the tool to repeatedly scrape your skin in a downward motion.

BEAUTY GLOW TEA

How to concoct a skin boosting turmeric tea

Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components. These characteristics can help to revive your skin by bringing out its natural glow. Sip sip…

You’ll need:

• 3 heaped tsp ground turmeric

• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger

• 1 small orange, zest pared

• honey or agave

• lemon slices to serve

How to:

1. Boil 500ml water in the kettle.

2. Put the turmeric, ginger and orange zest in to a teapot or jug.

3. Pour over the boiling water and allow to infuse for around 5 mins.

4. Strain through a sieve or tea strainer into two cups, add a slice of lemon and sweeten with honey or agave, as desired.

HONEY LIP SCRUB

How to make your own honey/ brown sugar lip scrub

You’ll need:

• Brown sugar

• Honey

How to:

1. Combine a tablespoon of each in a small bowl and mix.

2. Once you've created a nice granulated paste, apply it to clean lips.

3. Gently massage the scrub into the lips for a minute or so.

4. Don’t rub the paste too hard or too long. Rinse the scrub off of your lips with warm water and pat dry with a soft towel