#3 Glow & Tell: My Dimply Bits, SPF Stash & a Surprise Substack Hit!

A little taster of my latest feel-good loves and glow-givers…

Lately, I’ve found myself having a little pep talk with my body. In the UK we’ve been experiencing a wonderful, much-needed and rare run of beautiful sunny days. This is great but having come straight from those sluggish winter months where being the colour and texture of the Pilsbury Dough Boy (remember him?) has been disguised with cosy layers, I recently found myself standing in front of the mirror, giving my jiggly thighs a loving pat and reminding them, “It’s ok, we’ve been through a lot, haven’t we girls?”

I knew exactly how I would begin to level up my leg care - by trying out the much adored Cellu-Lite oil, by iconic British beauty brand Legology, and oh my word - not only does it smell utterly divine (like a posh spa in Provence), but its detox, aromatherapy ingredients actually seem to be making a dent in my dents! I’ve been slathering it on my bum, thighs and - maybe controversial? - my dimply belly too. Because why not? We deserve to feel fabulous all over. I’ll keep you posted, but early signs are smooth and hopeful.

Budget SPF for the Win

Now, let’s talk SPF. I’m always banging on about the importance of wearing it daily, especially during menopause when our skin can get a bit more sensitive and rebellious. My favourite budget-friendly gem is the Soltan Protect & Brighten Face Lotion SPF 50 with Vitamin C. It’s lightweight, doesn’t clog my pores or leave a Casper-looking cast, and the best bit? It’s under a tenner! I’ve got one in my everyday handbag, my dog-walking bum bag, and one in the glovebox so I can always be prepared. Here it is if you fancy a peek.

My Lips but Better

While we’re on glow-up goodies, I have to mention the Delilah Lip Saviour. I rarely venture far from neutral coloured lip products - even though I love the look of a dramatic red or perky pink on others, it’s rare for me to step out of the nude toned zone. A gloss or balm with a hint of a tint is my go-to, and this gorge little lippie, is a magical ‘your lips but better’ product, adding just enough tint and loads of moisture without that sticky gloopy feel. Plus, it’s award-winning and makes me feel a bit polished without trying too hard. You can find it here.

before and after: shinier, fuller lips but still au naturel.

Feeling the Writing Love!

I’ve been genuinely stunned by how much love my recent Substack feature, The Midlife Morning Routine That Makes Me Feel Fabulous, has been getting. I keep seeing likes pinging in - even weeks after posting. I think someone might’ve shared it somewhere because it’s been quietly going a bit viral (well, in my terms!) If you were one of the lovely people who passed it on - thank you so much! 💛

What with that and my recent Hello! Mag Second Act feature popping up on Apple News and sending my Substack subscribers and Instagram followers through the roof (ok, well maybe not in terms of many of you, but to me 50 or so extra Subs and Followers is something to be celebrated!) And I put a tongue-in-cheek reel up on Insta that I hope made a few of us ‘smaller’ writers chuckle.

Click to Read more here

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

And, while we’re on the topic of a daily routine that sets up your day to be a more positive and gentle one, I want to shout out the Happier Mindful Menopause Guide. It’s totally free, super practical and gentle, and has some genuinely helpful tips for managing menopause anxiety and finding a bit of peace amidst the hormonal whirlwinds. If it helps me and my overactive brain, I’m sure it’ll help you too. You can download the guide for free here.

The Post-Holiday Blues (With a Silver Lining)

My Fam…

Finally, my last little nugget of Glow & Tell goodness comes courtesy of my 29-year-old son. As we were leaving the most gorgeous family break in Devon, I gave him a tight cuddle and confessed how sad I felt to be heading home. He smiled and gently reframed it all with one simple sentence:

“Don’t be sad that it’s over - be happy that it happened.”

Of course, that set off my happy tears.

So, that’s all from me this week, my glow-getters. If you’ve tried any of the above, let me know! And if you’ve got any of your own midlife heroes - skincare, self-care or otherwise - I’m all ears. Tap reply or leave a comment, it always makes my day!

Lisa x