Self-care will forever be our favourite hobby but we appreciate that recharging and putting yourself first looks different for everyone. Each week, we'll be asking the celeb lot to share their ideal self-care Sunday routines, the hard-working beauty products they recommend to their friends and which TV show they're currently binging…
This week it's all about Ashley James, the TV presenter, DJ, reality star and dating & empowerment coach. The telly star and partner Tommy Andrews share a two-year-old son Alfie and are expecting a little girl in March. As well as sharing plenty of cute family snaps and pregnancy tips on social media, Ashley also uses her platform as a voice of female empowerment - from normalising body image hang-ups to celebrating ageing skin. 👏
As a champion of body positivity and feeling confident through the complexities of motherhood, Ashley has teamed up with Tu Clothing on the launch of their luxe-yet-affordable Boudoir Lingerie Collection. The range is designed for all shapes and sizes (ranging from 32A - 42GG) showcasing how fancy lingerie needn't cost the earth. Especially when prices start from just £8 and you can buy a matching set for £25. Bargain.
Ashley chats exclusively to heat about her self-care routine, confidence-boosting lingerie and the real secret for her 'pregnancy glow'...
On self-care
True self-care looks different for everyone and we shouldn't put pressure on ourselves as new mums, explains Ashey James.
"Who knows what self-care is going to look like over the next few months," she laughs, "but I think that's the thing about self-care. It's about what is manageable to you each day because I feel like there is a sort of forced positivity when you're a new mum. A lot of 'take care of yourself and take long baths' but often we don't have time to do all of that. It can feel overwhelming and you're letting yourself down.
"Self-care can be the little things like waking up in the morning and putting on happy music and not scrolling on your phone. For me, that makes such a difference in such a simple way.
"Getting time to myself every day is important, especially when you've got babies and toddlers and you're busy with work. Just having that time, whether it be to read a book for ten minutes, sit in silence for ten minutes or just watch something on Netflix. Tommy's thing is he likes to go to the gym every day but I just need some time on my own where I don't want people talking to me and I don't want to be touched by children!
"At the moment, as soon Alf goes to bed I love having a nice bath and I've been recently taking magnesium which is really good for cramps, and sore joints and it helps me sleep better as well, especially now I'm in that uncomfortable pregnant stage. I'm in bed by nine every night at the moment!"
On beauty favourites
"I am loving Weleda's Stretch Mark Massage Oil . It says it's a stretch mark oil and I actually don't agree with stretch marks because they are genetic and I don't think there is a magic potion that can help, but I love using this all over my body. It smells amazing and leaves my skin so smooth. I'm definitely going to carry on using this even post-pregnancy because it's great.
"Then I'd say my other favourite, which I can't say without thinking of Prince Harry, is theElizabeth Arden Eight-Hour Lip Balm . I've tried so many different lip balms and I always come back to this."
On make-up must-haves
"Always Pillow Talk by Charlotte Tilbury, that's mygo-to lipstick and lip liner. I loveFenty Beauty's Match Stix Contour in the shade Mocha. I've had that in my make-up bag for two years and I use it every day, so that lasts really well.
"My other hero is Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter . You can use that under foundation to give a really nice glow or you can use it on your own. I swear when everyone says that I'm glowing because of pregnancy, it's actually the Flawless Filter!"
On her Tu Clothing lingerie collection
"I've worked withTu for quite a while, particularly around pregnancy and postnatal and they're really committed to empowering women and specifically mums. To me, that felt really important because often in the postnatal space, there's not much focus on mums, especially in fashion. I feel like it's that vulnerable time where your old clothes really don't fit and you want to feel good, but you're going through breastfeeding, sleepless nights and all of that stuff. So when we looked at forming a slightly longer partnership we talked about the fact that lingerie is a big part of confidence and self-love for women.
"I've always had bigger boobs, double D and beyond and even though it's not just a double D + range, it starts from an A cup, we really wanted to give women that luxury feel of lingerie with an affordable price tag. I feel like typically nice lingerie doesn't exist at all past a double D or it's really expensive.
"Lingerie has been such a huge part of my own journey of self-acceptance. Especially having big boobs from such a young age, like 13/14, I was a child and the hyper sexualisation that comes with that and being made to feel ashamed of my body, like I should cover up if I don't want the attention.
"It's amazing to find a collection that is genuinely so comfortable and so beautiful. Hopefully, it will help lots of other women feel confident as well because even if no one sees your lingerie, it's an instant pick-me-up. When you've got matching lingerie on, you feel like you've got your shit together!
On her favourite pieces
What are Ashley's favourite pieces from the new collection?
"There's a lovely lace red set and you really can't go wrong with red. It goes with most skin tones as well. Then there is a reallysoft pink setthat is very 1920's Parisian boudoir and it's really flattering. Those are my absolute favourite hero pieces."
On life-changing books
"I'd say a book that changed my life is The Unexpected Joy Of Being Single by Catherine Gray . I feel like every woman should read that book. I feel society places so much importance on relationship status and often we can feel like a failure and struggle with the concept of being single. I was single for six years and three of those were in my 30s. There's this invisible pressure that women have to contend with a lot because of historical things around our worth and value being linked to men. That book completely changed my outlook on my life and has allowed me to have a healthy relationship because, I know it sounds cheesy, but I was complete on my own. I'm in a happy relationship because I don't feel like I need Tommy, I want him."
On wellness habits
"I'd say not scrolling on my phone in the morning and before bed is one of the easy big things to do. Also, not going on social media when I'm feeling anxious because it takes seeing one bad comment or you get sucked into comparison culture. Really boring, but also making sure I drink loads of water because I feel more awake and alert and my skin's better and everything's better.
"And then remembering to breathe again, which sounds so silly and simple. They say adrenaline and cortisol, essentially stress, can't function at the same time as serotonin and dopamine. So even just breathing for three minutes daily can reset your body and release happy hormones."
Quickfire round:
What show are you currently watching? The Pamela Anderson documentary on Netflix is really good and really interesting.
How do you like your cuppa? Usually coffee, but in this pregnancy, tea. I'd say I'm somewhere in the middle between a strong and a weak one.
Go-to loungewear brand? Obviously Tu, I've got loads of my like tracksuits and athleisure from them. My particular favourite would be thekhaki leggings from their maternity range, they're genuinely so comfy.
Favourite face mask? The Dermalogica Age Smart Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque .
Go-to takeaway order? Chicken tikka masala, Peshwari naan and pilau rice.
Favourite candle? Do you know what I'm one of those people that love candles but I never actually burn them because they're too posh to burn! I love being gifted like a Joe Malone candle though.