LOCKDOWN LIFE: THE LITTLE THINGS

The current climate has challenged what we all consider to be normal. A lot of what had previously made up the day-to-day of life, have now been highlighted as great luxuries. During this time of strangeness, it's important to acknowledge the little things, regardless of how trivial.

For example being late to work is more difficult (though I do keep challenging this with my evermore frequent alarm snoozes); not wearing make-up has refreshed my skin (though still not ready for make-up-less Zoom calls); my hair is longer than it's been in years (unfortunately so are my roots); I'm devouring more books than chocolate and the dog seems to love all of our company (and the exorbitant amount of treats he now receives). All little things, that have buoyed to great significance during the tumult of pandemic life.

Though I do miss getting dressed, or perhaps it's the purpose life afforded us in carrying out this act before. However, when movement is limited between my makeshift office and the kettle, clothes are mandated by the comfort necessitated by my predominantly static existence. And with no places to go and no people to see, my life's uniform has resulted in sports leggings and a Marks & Spencer cardigan. Every. Day. The millennial fear of outfit repeating has now been replaced by actual fear. I did briefly think about investing in my loungewear, but that somehow felt like I was giving in by outfitting myself for longterm lockdown. I have therefore resolved to abstain from new clothing purchases and enjoy this no-thinking way of getting dressed (only during lockdown I must add).

However, with a great expanse of time and the grandiose space of four walls to fill it with, I have been perusing the internet for stuff, because of course what better way to rectify boredom than stuff? I joke. Shopping is morally complex, particularly now and whether you choose to or not, is a personal decision that carries new weight. For me, I have been trying to downsize my consumption, opting to repair, re-wear and recycle, but that hasn't negated my penchant for absentmindedly trawling the internet. Though I have refrained from purchasing anything, I thought I might relay the items that have piqued my interest. All wildly unnecessary, all deeply enticing and all yet to have been checked out. 

Tidy Space, Tidy Mind

I have spent a lot of time sorting out, tidying up and just generally moving things about. I have also spent a lot of time reading articles about sorting out, tidying up and just generally moving things about. Following the perusal of one such article, my Amazon list grew exponentially with various contraptions that promise all manner of space saving solutions. I am currently contemplating a shirt folder, a slim shoe holder and a revolving cosmetics organiser. If nothing else comes from this time in isolation, at least I will have the organisational merits of Marie Kondo.

Laying it Bare

Working from home has afforded me a newly make-up free existence. I now only paint my face for my weekly Zoom quiz and with that I only use the bare minimum to perk up the parlour of my rather colour-less complexion. My focus has shifted instead to skin care. Masking has become my new pastime; staring out the window is interspersed with staring at my pores and I now spend my evenings drenching my skin in oil (the good kind). I may still be baffled by retinol, Vitamin C and whatever else it is I'm supposed to be using on my twenty-something skin, but I've seen enough influencer shelfies to be more than contemplating adopting a regimen of Ole Henrikson. I have a wealth of Boots points and an overwhelming need to use them. 

Colouring Outside the Lines

Despite this new appreciation for my bare face, when I do re-enter the world, I will be donning make-up of some kind. I feel it polite that I don't scare my colleagues on first reunion. Though perhaps now I will choose a lighter consistency, so as not to overwhelm the canvas that has largely been bare this whole time. For this, I have turned to The Ordinary serum foundation. It has a light formula, an abundance of shades and is under £6. I also have 15% off which makes this purchase a no brainer. I may have also been enticed by a 20% discount allowing me to purchase a long sought after lipstick at Charlotte Tilbury that I hope adds some pep on those dreary Mondays.

The Elephant in my (bath) Room

In my quest to become evermore low maintenance, I have made all heated hair styling tools redundant. My nerves might be frazzled but my hair needn't be. I have also retired my dry shampoo, having read about the stifling consequences that the powder has on hair growth. I can't promise that I won't be rekindling my relationship with dry shampoo eventually - an unhealthy relationship with Netflix and early starts mandate certain corners to be cut. But for the time being, in an effort to intensify the lustre of my strands, I have become complicit in the Drunk Elephant hype, namely their shampoo and conditioner. The packaging is enough to encourage one to purchase. However, the price tag acts to stop one buying based purely on superficiality alone. But having read the reviews - smells like marzipan apparently - I think I'm sold.

Fast Daps for Slow Days

Though I did say that I was avoiding making clothing purchases, I figured that this self-imposed rule didn't count if it was something that I had long sought after. The items in question here are a pair of black trainers. Basic, yes. Necessary, also yes. Until recently I feigned that my shoe size was that of a UK 5. However, I am in fact a size 6. Why I lied, I'm not sure. But I can assure you that it is only I that lost in this rouse, resulting in a collection of ill-fitting shoes. My trainer collection suffered and thus left me with feet crippled and nail varnish chipped. So following this epiphany I have decided to reinvent my sneaker game (in my correct size), beginning with the Adidas EQT Gazelles and wouldn't you know, there's 25% off...

And so the window-shopping continues, it's retail therapy without the financial guilt, like having your cake and eating it and that cake being calorie-free. Remember it's all about the little things. 

(Images via : unknown & whowhatwear.co.uk)