Your taking-care-of-you Heyday Friday newsletter

Important health maintenance tips, two skin-saving eco-friendly homemade beauty products and an unforgettable film recommendation in this week's newsletter

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To kick off the self-care theme of this week’s missive I’m starting, somewhat unusually, with

WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK

Radical, I know! Partly that’s because I’m still basking in the glow of having spent the most heavenly day at THIS glorious spa yesterday, where sampling the delights of the outdoor heated jacuzzi pools, the sauna, sea salt steam room and indoor pool, and benefitting from a brutally effective deep-tissue massage and facial, I was reminded how just a few hours of stepping away from the busyness of daily life and being taken care of and treated (in many ways) makes you feel SO much better, not just in body, but in mind as well (it helps to do it with a dear friend who you haven’t seen for a while).

But there’s a second reason why this picture has made it into this slot this week, and that’s because it was taken at 4.45. In the afternoon. And lookee……it’s still light! I’m sure there will be some kind of Arctic blast still to come, probably in the middle of April, so it’s almost certainly too soon to imagine that winter is entirely done and dusted. But the days ARE finally getting properly longer here in the UK. And whilst you can’t quite say there’s a sense of spring in the air yet (though I did spot my first snowdrops today), it does feel as if there’s a spring-like light in sight at the end of the dark - and by the end of January, seemingly never-ending - tunnel of winter.

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Keeping the mood upbeat and seasonal here’s this week’s

FRIDAY FUNNY

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Back now to the subject of self-care and this week’s blog (you knew I’d get there eventually), which was triggered by an unexpected discovery made by a good friend and long-time Heydayer, after a routine medical check.

It concerns a condition which many of us could have without even knowing, and which can impact us increasingly as we get older, the risks of which can at least be reduced, if not eliminated, with very simple and easy-to-incorporate lifestyle adjustments.

Find out what it is and how to keep your risk of suffering from it as low as possible by CLICKING HERE

Here’s a bit of a clue.

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Two of the products that the beauty therapist used for my facial really helped to give my face a fresh glow and feel super-hydrated (both especially welcome for us with older skins). They were a reminder I should use a face scrub and a facial oil more often (she put mine under my moisturiser, which I didn’t realise you could do, duh) and that in the past I’ve made both myself at home, rather than buying expensive products and consigning their packaging to landfill afterwards.

So it’s back to the kitchen to mix up these

SMART SAVE TIPS OF THE WEEK

FACE SCRUB that’s great for ageing skin.

The almonds in this make a surprisingly effective exfoliator and help it to not only cleanse but hydrate your skin, tighten your pores and reduce inflammation leaving your skin looking noticably brighter.
2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
5 tsp. ground almonds
1 tsp. warmed honey
2 drops rose oil

Blend all the ingredients together in a small bowl, then buff onto face and decolletage. Rinse with warm water and wipe gently with a flannel to remove all the residue.

Incredibly easy and incredibly moisturising FACIAL OIL

Put 30ml of jojoba oil and 10 drops of rose geranium essential oil in a clean, ideally dark coloured, glass bottle, then shake to mix. You can leave out the rose oil (which is there for its many skin boosting properties) if you prefer to use something unscented on your skin, or use a different oil - tee tree is good if you have acne, for example.

But do be careful because some essential oils are phototoxic, meaning they react with the sun’s UV rays and can trigger an inflammatory reaction in your skin. Most citrus-based essential oils, like bergamont, or grapefruit, are phototoxic, for example. So do check first.

To use, put three or four drops into the palm of your hand, rub them together and massage over your face, neck and decolletage.

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THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN……WATCHING

There’s been a lot of hoo-ha over the omission of Margo Robbie and Greta Gerwig from this year’s Oscars shortlist for, respectively, their performance in and directing of Barbie. But - as good and deserving as they both are - for my money there’s another leading actress and director who have been outrageously excluded from the shortlist in either of those categories. And that’s Greta Lee and Celine Song, who also wrote the screenplay (for which she has been nominated), for as exquisite a piece of film making and story telling as you’re likely to see this year.

Past Lives tells the story of beloved childhood friends, Nora and Hae Sung, whose powerful connection is severed when Nora’s family emigrate from South Korea to Canada when the youngsters are 10 years old. Years later, Nora is studying theatre in New York when Hae Sung tracks her down on-line and the two ‘meet up’ again on zoom and slowly re-establish the threads of their relationship.

As their conversation and connection deepens, Hae Sung decides to visit Nora, who is now contentedly married, and the scene is set for a meeting powerfully, yet never sentimentally, shot through with love, longing, loss and the futility of regret. Nora shifts between her Korean heritage and her American identity (and the two languages, with almost all the scenes with Hae Sung - as an adult and in childhood - in Korean) and her feelings for the two men in her life, both of whom she loves deeply. Arthur is at once understanding and suspicious, whilst Hae Sung is quiet, dignified, and heart-broken.

The film is directed with astonishing assuredness by first-timer Celine Song, with faultless performances from all her leads, and features a breathtakingly heart-aching scene towards the end that will leave you indelibly and emotionally shattered. Past Lives is not to be missed.

You can watch PAST LIVES on Amazon Prime

And see a trailer HERE

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Finishing as I started with a pic from my heavenly spa day (which I enjoyed almost as much as the mother who was there with her daughter, enjoying a herbal tea in the outdoor jacuzzi pool just beyond my lounger!) and these

WORDS OF WISDOM

from American novelist and writer, Anne Lamott. Feel free to substitute minutes for hours, or even days.

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I hope your week has time in it for you to unplug and re-charge (if that’s not a contradiction in terms).

Take care and see you next time

Diane x