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 ask 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 make-up artist and content creator, Carly Acton who is best known for starring in ITV2's new reality show, Olivia Attwood's Bad Boyfriends. For anyone new here, it's the 11-part series where unsuspecting 'bad boyfriends' are taken to a Greek villa under the premise of filming a series called Brotopia, but instead are confronted by their long-suffering girlfriends. They take part in challenges to rectify their ways, reconnect relationships and battle it out to become the most improved boyfriend. Honestly, TV gold.
The 23-year-old, who starred in the show with long-term boyfriend Tom J, was loved for her incredible outfits, glowy make-up looks and really cementing herself as a girl's girl. Aside from the show, Carly has worked with huge fashion and beauty brands thanks to her loyal 70k-plus Instagram following who adore her impeccable cool girl style and stellar high-street recommendations.
Carly chats exclusively to heat about how she ended up on Bad Boyfriends, the make-up products she loved for filming and the life-changing book she's passed through her entire friendship group...
On applying for Bad Boyfriends
So how did Carly and Tom end up on Olivia Attwood's Bad Boyfriends in the first place?
"When this came up, to be honest, I wasn't eager to do it, but it seemed fitting and I love Liv. We got approached for this around February time for what we initially thought was a completely different show. They approached us both and basically said it was a completely different concept until we got to the main interviews in London with the producers. We had one interview together where they asked us all about our relationship to get a feel for us both and then they did a separate interview.
"Tom's interview was just normal and then I jumped into mine, Liv [Attwood] was on a video call and she basically said how we're all actually going to be on this big secret show called, Olivia Attwood's Bad Boyfriends. We weren't allowed to tell the boys and we had to sign an NDA. Honestly, I had the shock of my life when I saw the screen as I have loved Liv for so long.
"They basically said we're going to call you in a week's time on a Zoom meeting and we're going to tell Tom that we've not got this show for you both, but we want you for this Brotopia show instead. Tom was like, "I'm not doing that, sounds rubbish' and I was like, 'Just do it, it'll be good!"
On the getting ready process
For the most part, the girls all live together in a Greek villa, so what's the getting ready process like?
"The getting ready process was chaos! There's nothing like being told we have a 15-minute turnaround to wash our hair, shower, do a full glam and be dressed up and out on the terrace in 15 minutes. It was honestly chaos. It was crazy because filming was so intense and sometimes stuff would take longer than expected. Getting ready was not enjoyable, it would just be a rush. Us girls were just running around, swapping clothes, trying to find the hair curlers, hair dryer and trying to eat our dinner all at the same time. The boys were just basically trying to stay out of our way!"
On make-up faves for filming
"Definitely the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops, £34. I'm obsessed and use them every day anyway. Always waterproof mascara because you never knew what was going to happen in these challenges. It could end up in tears, we could end up wet, so waterproof mascara is a must.
"I also love the Pixi Lip Balm in the shade Scarlet, £8 and would always tap that right and centre of my lips and it just brings you to life and makes you look put together. If I had two secs to get ready, which was most of the time, I would throw the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops on and a little bit of the Pixi on my lips and I'm done!"
"On my body, I loved using the Sol de Janeiro Glow Body Oil Copacabana Bronze, £35 and it gives you the most bronzey glow. You just need a little bit on the decolletage and it's so good."
www.boots.com
On budget beauty buys
"The L'Oreal Tinted Plumping Serum, £9.45 it's a hybrid between skincare and make-up. I like to get one in a darker colour so it adds a nice bronze to my skin whilst evening out everything at the same time. It's really, really good and I always recommend it to my clients. It gives you a smoother, glowier, healthier version of your own skin, it's really good. I've gone through so many bottles of it."
On self-care routines
What does the ultimate self-care Sunday look like for Carly?
"Sunday is my favourite day of the week. I really struggle to be okay with relaxing and chilling throughout the week, I'm a very 0-100 kind of person and I like to be busy 24/7, but a Sunday is a day where I don't feel guilty about chilling.
"I like to wake up, my first port of call would be to make myself a good vanilla iced latte, always. I've got speakers in the ceiling so when I do it, I like to put some coffee shop jazz music on. It really romanticises the morning.
"When I'm doing my little coffee, I always like to put a hair treatment in or hair oil ready for my 'everything shower' that I always have on a Sunday evening. I like fresh PJs and a face mask on a Sunday. Because I'm here there and everywhere on a weekend doing make-up or bridals, I'll always unpack my suitcase on a Sunday and make sure I'm reset for Monday and the week ahead."
On villa beauty products
"Jordi brought in these Pixi Chubby Blush Sticks, £18 that I had never used before, but literally everyone kept throwing them on their face for that strawberry sunburnt blush look. It gave a red tint and it was so nice for when you tan on holiday."
www.boots.com
On show outfits
"Honestly, I didn't buy a single outfit for the show! Obviously with my job anyway I do get sent a lot of clothes and I also wanted to reuse outfits that I know I already love because I didn't want to go on TV and be like, 'What am I putting together?' I did pack stuff in mostly outfits and took some random bits as well just to style if I wanted. I just brought outfits from holidays that I'd already been on prior to it and then loads of bikinis.
"My personal favourites from the show outfit-wise was the pearl top outfit I wore for movie night and the Jaded jeans. I loved that outfit. I wore it in Barcelona too, so I knew I liked it. Then my leaving outfit, which was a handmade crochet two-piece from Toia Tricot. I said to all the girls on the night we knew someone was being evicted, make sure you wear an outfit you don't want to go to waste because if you leave, you'll regret not wearing it."
On skincare
"My skin is actually not great and I've struggled with it a lot, but it's improved so much over the years. Not to say I don't get breakouts and texture because I do. I've started getting facial peels a few times which has really helped.
"But for my at-home skincare routine, I always use the Elemis Pro-CollagenCleansing Balm, £49 which is a cult favourite, I know everyone loves that. I always like to use the Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner, £22 it feels like a breath of fresh air for your skin, it makes you look really glowy and your skin feels squeaky clean.
"A few times a week I'll use the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting BHA Toner, £35 as it's a lot stronger. I also love the Caudalie Vinopure Serum, £32 I love that for blemishes and red marks on your skin. Those are definitely the staples in my skincare routine that I'll never switch out, they will always be repurchased."
On daily wellness habits
What are the everyday rituals that ensure Carly feels her best self?
"I always try to make sure I wake up and move my body in some way. I take my vitamins first thing in the morning, a multivitamin and a skin, hair and nails one. Going to the gym first thing really sets me up for the day, but if I can't get to the gym first thing I like to get my steps in."
On life-changing books
"I literally shout this from rooftops and have done for years, it's The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I read this book when I was 18 and went travelling on my own around Bali and Thailand. This book was my little mentor almost. I literally was reading that for my whole journey, and when things were going wrong, it would just teach me how to alter my brain chemistry to see things in a more positive light. I've passed it through all of my friends and I'm like, 'You need to read this book!' I'm such a positive person and I think it's because I've read this book so many times."
On words of wisdom
"My favourite quote is 'Visualise your higher self and then show up as her.' I always think to myself, 'What would the dream version of myself do in this situation? How would she act in this situation?' Then that's how I try and take on situations."
Quickfire round:
Show you’re currently binging? Olivia Attwood's Bad Boyfriends!
Go-to cuppa? I like my cup of tea with two sweeteners and I like it a caramel shade - like my skin colour.
Go-to loungewear brand? You'll always find me in a Ru & Rocka tracksuit, they're so high-quality.
Everyday perfume? I love to layer the Baccarat Rouge, £245 with an Atyab Al Marshoud Oud Hair Mist, £56 and it's the nicest, warm, oudy, strong scent. I mix them together and it's the perfect combination.
Go-to takeaway order? Chinese, always. I will literally order one of everything on the menu.
Favourite candle? I love the Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Candle, £55, it's my favourite candle and it literally fills the whole space so quickly.
Aimee Jakes is heat’s trending content editor. As well as writing about skincare launches, high-street fashion and gym bag essentials, she’s forever chatting to celebs about their fancy beauty routines. Follow her on Instagram here