The Garden Guide

We don’t know about you, but having neglected our humble outdoor space for years, over the last few weeks it’s suddenly become a haven. With limited options and cabin fever setting in, time spent in the garden is quickly becoming the day’s highlight. Whether you have sprawling country grounds or a tower block balcony, tending a green patch is great for your mental wellbeing. If you’ve never dug your fingers into the soil before, now is a great time to start, and we’re here to help set you up for success.Seasoned gardener? We may not be able to teach you anything you don’t already know, but we do have some essential items to add to your toolkit. 

Why Garden?

Need a little convincing that getting your hands dirty is worthwhile? We completely understand. For many of us, it's only the uncertainty of the last few weeks that has made us realise how valuable growing your own fresh food could be. And as luck would have it, this is the perfect time of year to get started on your gardening journey.Not only can gardening provide food for your family without having to venture to the supermarket, but it can also do wonders for your mental health. Nurturing something from seed to plant, connecting with the earth and letting go of ‘perfection’ is all part and parcel of becoming a gardener. 

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” - Audrey Hepburn

Not green-fingered? Give gardening a try anyway. Best case scenario, you’ll end up with some beautiful homegrown fresh food. Worst case scenario, you’ll have spent more time outside in the fresh air and have a welcome distraction for a few weeks.

Gardening with Kids

If you have children at home, gardening is a great activity to involve them in. Allocate a special area that they’re in charge of, whether that’s a raised bed, or a paper cup on a windowsill - work with what you have. You’ll want to make sure you’re both equipped with sunhats and high SPF protection, as it’s easy to get so swept up in gardening you don’t notice how long you’ve been in the sunshine.

 

Gardening on a Budget

If gardening has never been your “thing” in the past, you’re probably hesitant to throw money at this potential new hobby - we get it. But it’s entirely possible to garden on a budget, using no additional materials than what you already have lying around. Take the seeds from your supermarket fruit and vegetables, keep them damp by placing them on wet cotton wool or a paper towel and pop them in a sunny spot to germinate.

Gardening Skincare Toolkit

The one downside to gardening is the battering your hands will take. Dirt pulls moisture from your skin, so between spending time handling soil and all the extra washing, your hands might take a beating. That’s where we come in.

1) Choose the right hand wash

When it comes to washing the soil from your hands, choosing the correct hand soap can make a big difference to your skin. Opt for an exfoliating variety to cut down the amount of time it takes to get your hands clean and remove every last trace of dirt. One of our favourite soaps for gardening is Cowshed Restore Exfoliating Hand Wash. Fine grains of pumice uncover smooth, clean skin, while the sweet orange and peppermint oils bring the fresh fragrance of the garden into your home.

2) Lock in the moisture

If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that the only thing as important as hand washing is following up with lotion. Owners of dry, chapped hands around the world are currently nodding their heads in agreement. Placing a pump bottle of hand lotion in your bathroom will ensure you remember to put some much-needed moisture back into your hands after washing. By now, you’ve probably already discovered our range of hand lotions, but if you’re still on the hunt, here are a few of our favourites:

• Neal’s Yard Geranium & Orange Hand Lotion
• Cowshed Restore Hand Cream
• Molton Brown Black Peppercorn Hand Lotion
• Noble Isle Golden Harvest Hand Lotion

3) Protect and maintain skin health

Regular maintenance is the best way to prevent chapped, cracked hands. One way to do this is by giving your hands a little boost as and when needed. If you find your hands are getting a little rough, use L’Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub once or twice a week to buff away calluses. It gently exfoliates with shea nut husks, and replaces moisturise with a combination of shea butter and apricot oil.

If your hands are particularly dry from gardening, it’s also worth investing in occasional hand treatments. Before bed, slather on a good layer of a thick, nourishing cream like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant Cream or Weleda Skin Food. Getting to work as you sleep, both deeply hydrate your skin with a unique blend of nourishing ingredients.

4) Deal with any niggles as they appear

If all the extra kneeling and bending is taking a toll on your joints, nip those twinges in the bud straight away. A small ache can lead to other muscles overcompensating and create a wider issue, so if you start to feel pain, treat it at the source. The Organic Pharmacy Capsicum, Devil's Claw & Ginger Cream uses natural ingredients to provide warming, nourishing relief from joint pain and smells amazing. Or, try new Cubid CBD Rejuvenate Stay Active Cream which reduces inflammation on a cellular level.

Gardening has always been an English pastime, and there’s no time like the present to become a part of the movement. We’d love to see snaps of your home garden, tag us on Instagram @allbeautyhq