Making The Most Of The Sunshine

We’ve all been treated to some unexpectedly fine weather of late, which has come as a very welcome addition to the millions of us who are stuck at home. If recent events have taught us anything, it’s to enjoy the little things in life that we too often take for granted. With that in mind, we’ve put together our top tips for making the most of the sunshine and enhancing your outdoor (and indoor) space to make it work for you.Whether you’re a sun worshipper or prefer the shade, getting your daily dose of Vit D is great for both body and mind, but the key to enjoying the clear blue skies is being able to do it in comfort. Here’s how to create little spots of sunny heaven at home:

A Basking Spot

If you adore the sun, the chances are you’ve already located the perfect spot in your garden to soak up the rays. If not, now is the time! 

But please folks, don’t forget that the sun can wreak havoc on your skin. UV rays are one of the main causes of premature ageing, so before heading outdoors, make sure you’ve got all the right tools on hand to keep your skin safe while you’re sunbathing. Don’t hit your basking spot without a water bottle in hand, a hat on your head, and a good layer of SPF cream on both your body and your face. 

We also swear by the top trick of keeping a bottle of hydrating mist on hand, especially on those days that there’s no breeze. A quick shot of hydration helps to cool you down and puts some much-needed moisture back into the skin.

A Reading Nook

With longer days and nowhere to be, it’s the perfect time to start working your way through those unread books on your shelf, with a sunshine twist. Create a comfortable nook that becomes your go-to spot for reading, either a semi-shaded spot in the garden, or simply by moving an armchair near a south-facing window. You’ll not only get to soak up some sunshine, but also enjoy the perfect light levels for reading.

When you’ve got your head buried in a book, hours can easily fly by without you knowing it, so remember to protect the parts of your body that are being exposed to the sun. Wear an SPF designed for the face, concentrating on your nose and forehead where the sun hits. 

It’s also a great idea at this time of year to upgrade your lip balm to one that includes SPF, if it doesn’t already. We particularly love the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defence Stick - its a whopping SPF50 and is slightly larger than a lip balm as it’s designed to be used on other areas too, like your nose and ears.

Vino Corner

 Never has there been more need for a dedicated sunny spot for drinking wine (responsibly, of course). With everything going on in the world, you may be indulging in the sav blanc a little more often, so why not do it in style?Scope out the part of your garden that gets the last of the afternoon/evening sun and designate it “vino corner” complete with comfy chairs and a small table for nibbles. In general, we don’t spend enough time outdoors, but dusk is a fantastic time to be in the garden, especially at this time of year. Enjoy the birdsong and stillness as you unwind with a chilled glass of something delicious.

But remember, while a glass of vino is great for relaxing at the end of a tense day, it does have a tendency to dry out your skin and increase redness. Make sure you’re including a night moisturiser and/or serum in your bedtime routine to keep the signs of ageing at bay. For bonus points, continue the vineyard theme by using a Caudalie product, like the Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil which contains nourishing grape seed oil.

Invest In Greenery

There’s something incredibly relaxing about getting stuck into gardening, whether you’re naturally green-fingered or not. Plants improve the look and feel of your outside space, and can provide everything from food to fragrance. In a previous blog, we delved into the ways gardening can reduce stress and enhance your mental health, but it also just makes your garden a much nicer place to be. Make the most of all that sun by adding some greenery into thoughtful spaces of your garden. Climbing sweet peas are easy to grow and smell amazing, injecting colour into boring spaces with their bright blooms. Or, start growing fruit on your patio, with cherries, raspberries and strawberries all being great options for even the smallest areas.

You’ll find some of the key items in your gardening toolkit in this blog, but the TLDR version is to make sure you’ve got a great hand soap, as you’ll be washing your hands even more than usual. The allbeauty favourite this week is Molton Brown Rhubarb Rose, it smells as good as it sounds!

Bring The Outside In

There’s no better way to celebrate the sunny weather than by improving your home’s indoor-outdoor flow. Doors can be thrown open to the garden, letting the smell of green grass and fresh blooms filter indoors. Windowsills can become suntraps for growing your own herbs, filling your kitchen with the aroma of fresh basil and rosemary. Your home will never smell so good!

Of course, not everyone has the time or inclination to grow plants indoors, or perhaps you suffer from seasonal allergies and are avoiding “bringing the outside in” at all costs! The good news is, you can still enjoy the scent of Spring without the plant or pollen factor. 

Whether you’re gardening or not, hand washing is a regular feature of everyone’s day, so opt for soaps infused with aromatics. Replace your boring kitchen hand wash with L’Occitane Shea Butter Citrus & Rosemary Duo, and in the bathroom, add a bar of Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Soap. 

For added fragrance, use a diffuser in the main traffic area of your home. We love Noble Isle Willow Song which is a floaty green floral that blends rose petal, ivy and watermelon. If you have pollen allergies, we’d highly recommend trying Neom Organics Scent to Calm & Relax. Not only does it smell amazing - with notes of Moroccan blush rose, lime and black pepper - but it can also help to alleviate the symptoms of hayfever.

However you choose to celebrate the arrival of sunshine, allbeauty has got you covered. Discover the full Spring Beauty Edit.