Courtney Black talks sweat-proof make-up, sleep routines and her favourite fake tan for bronzed skin

We love a bit of self-care and all this time at home over the last year has really given us an excuse to look after ourselves inside and out. Each week, we'll be asking the celeb lot to share their Sunday self-care routines, because taking care of yourself is more important than ever.

This week it's all about the Courtney Black, the 24-year-old personal trainer who has revolutionised home workouts over lockdown.

In fact, she's been dubbed the 'queen of live workouts' and had over 30,000 people tuning in during the first lockdown, all determined to get fit and have fun in the process.

Courtney is high-energy, relatable and hilarious whilst also reminding you 'what doesn't challenge you, doesn't change you'. Courtney Black workouts are known for being tough yet enjoyable and it's meant she's built a massive community of 'warriors' who live for her 28-day challenges. But what is the secret sauce to her growing empire?

"I actually just think it’s because the workouts are just so different, they don’t get boring. I don’t want to do boring workouts either, so I put so much love into every single one that I put together, because obviously I want to have a good workout as well!" she tells heat.

Not content with millions of people using the Courtney Black Fitness App every month, Courtney has also has brought out her own activewear collection with In The Style, stocks her own 'CB' booty bands and even has her app (and face!) plastered across buses in London, Liverpool and Manchester.

You know you've made it when your face is on an actual BUS.

Courtney talks the importance of self-care, her top fitness tips for beginners and the fake tan she swears by for bronzed skin...

On mental health

Courtney knows how to uplift her audience and is a true beacon of positivity during her daily fitness videos, but she admits that she also feels really low at times.

"I actually suffered quite a bit, I’d say in September time." she explains, "So the first lockdown I actually didn’t find too bad, because it was sunny and everyone was getting out and going for walks. I was doing the live workouts, was super busy and all excited."

"Then I think, when it started getting colder we couldn’t do much else, everyone had just had enough. I actually got quite low, I’d say and obviously I was in the flat, I couldn’t go out for a walk much because it was shit weather. I actually really suffered and the only thing that kept me going was training and everyone on the app. Also researching how to be the best trainer possible."

On her top fitness tip for beginners

Starting on your fitness journey can feel daunting, but Courtney says it's important to push through it and do what you can. Things will get easier.

"I always say this, just don’t give up! Even if you’ve got to stop and literally just stand there watching me do it and don’t daunt yourself either. There’s lots going around at the minute with people saying you’ve got to train for a certain amount of time or you’ve got to get these steps in. Just do what makes you happy and do how much you can fit in.

Courtney says it's totally okay to embrace a shorter workout, even if it's just ten minutes out of your day.

"Always just tell yourself you’re going to go and give it your all. If you really don’t feel like it still after 10-15 minutes, then just don’t do it. Give yourself a day off, but after that 10-15 minutes I’ll guarantee you’re always going to get the motivation to then finish your workout. You’re going to chase that post-workout feeling because it’s the best feeling in the world!"

On disordered eating

Courtney has been vocal in the past about her experience with an eating disorder and now urges her followers to fuel their bodies properly.

"I think the main thing was, I was always Googling ‘how to lose more weight’, ‘what’s going to give me a six pack’ and I was literally just cutting out foods because it told me ‘don’t eat sugar’, ‘don’t eat carbs’, ‘don’t eat this’ ‘only eat blueberries and flaxseeds’... only eat dust basically! So I was drinking 10 cups of green tea a day because I was told apparently you burn 50 calories every cup. I was just trying to research, but there’s a lot of shit on the internet and unfortunately that’s how a lot of people make their money. I think it’s so easy to be wrapped into people when they’re actually selling you a dream."

"I think, don’t be so restrictive with your food, realise that food is actually fuel and you do actually need it. Because I don’t stop eating now and it’s the best I’ve ever looked and it’s because your body actually needs the food and will go into overdrive if not."

On her ultimate self-care Sunday

"I have a self-care Sunday, I have a self-care Tuesday, I have a self-care Thursday - you can never have too much self-care!" Courtney laughs.

"I actually went through a phase in the second lockdown of not doing any self-care and I’m such a girly girl, but I think, where I was just so down I didn’t want to put any attention into myself. Which is very unlike me as I like feeling good."

So what is Courtney's go-to routine when it comes to look after herself?

"Step one is go for a walk. Step two is to do some yoga and really stretch out my body. Sometimes I can’t be bothered to do that, not going to lie. What I always do is I put my face steamer on, so I give myself a facial steam, I get all my spots out with my blackhead extracting tool. I do a clay mask. I putOlaplex on my hair. I get in an epsom or magnesium salt bath, with a nice oil bath bomb and absolutely scald myself!

I always, every Sunday I’ll use the Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser and get every single bit of fake tan off my body with a body brush. Then I’ll tan for the week, I love St Tropez Self Ran Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse. I tan every single Sunday, sometimes I do it on a Wednesday as well. The key is, you have to remove your tan, you have to get it all off."

On her skincare routine:

Courtney is a huuge fan of skincare and her go-to routine is proper fancy. Not a make-up wipe in sight, tbh.

"So I use the Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel , I then use the SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewak Cleanser because I use two. Then at the minute I’m using the SkinCeuticals Blemish and Age Defense Corrective Serum and their Phloretin C F Antioxidant Vitamin C Gel, I then always use a factor 50, I use the Heliocare 360 Colour Gel Oil-Free SPF 50

"Always use a retinol too, every third night. If you’re suffering from breakouts after you train, make sure you use a glycolic pad and let it air, but don’t put serum on after, you have to just let it air."

Noted.

On sweat-proof make-up

Despite all the lunging and burpees, Courtney always looks great during her live workouts. Her secret?

"Heliocare Tinted SPF it is the one! It is oil-free, it doesn’t congest, it doesn’t come off and then all I literally do is put a bit of concealer on under my eyes and then just a bit of mascara. Never put mascara on your bottom eyelashes when you’re training!

The cult-favourite tinted SPF 50 delivers a similar coverage to foundation, whilst being clinically proven not to clog pores. A really great formula for anyone wanting a bit of coverage whilst getting their sweat on.

On sleep rituals

Due to her early mornings, Courtney favours an early bedtime, telling us she's normally been working for four hours before her manager Georgia starts.

"I fall asleep every night at about half nine. I’m not really a TV person, I like using the Headspace app for sleep. So I put this guy on and he talks you through switching off your body which is really cool, it helps you get into a deeper sleep."

As for her other must have sleep products?

"I love using the L'Occitane Relaxing Pillow Mist , it is unbelievable. Then I use the Better You Magnesium Salt Spray... gosh I’m really high-maintenance ain’t I? [Starpowa also do sleep gummies {href='https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/starpowa-snooze-vitamin-black-cherry-flavoured-gummies-60043793' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'}) and they're amazing."

On the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction is a huge trend at the moment, with lots of celebs claiming that their positive thinking has attracted them the success in their lives. Where does Courtney stand when it comes to LoA?

"I do believe in the Law of Attraction but I think people need to realise that just by thinking of something it’s not actually just going to come into your life."

"I do agree that positive thoughts attract positivity, but if you actually want to get somewhere you do need to take action. There’s no point dreaming of your dream job, you actually need to action it. I think a big part of it is taking that self-discipline and taking that big step and actioning what you’re thinking about. It’s great manifesting, but do manifestation and action."

Manifestation and action? We need that on a t-shirt.

On plans post-lockdown

Courtney's career has really taken off during lockdown, but what are her plans for when things return to normality? First thing on her list is 'Warrior Warehouse bootcamps.'

"We’re planning all these big Warrior Warehouse bootcamps in the ExCeL or at the 02 for October time. It’s just crazy to think that that’s going to happen!"

"I just want to meet as many people as possible. I want to do as much for the community as possible, that’s a huge thing for me. I want to take this app massive, I’m thinking next year to add lots of different elements to the app, like really take boxing to the next level, really take pilates. I want to add a pre and post-natal plan on the app as well. I think it’s just really expanding out."

Courtney's professional ambitions aren't just about taking the app to the next level as she tells heat she's planning on starting a podcast. "We’re at the minute just trying to source a producer to get the ball rolling, but I definitely know a few people that I want to get on."

Honestly? We can't bloody wait.

Quickfire round:

Last TV show you binged? Through Her Eyes... quite morbid!

Go-to cuppa? I love an English Breakfast Tea with normal milk and a stevia.

Favourite face mask?DermaQuest Clay Mask.

Go-to takeaway order? Sushi.

Favourite candle? This is really hard! I’d say Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir.

Shop Courtney Black's self-care favourites:

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On social media detoxes

"I was actually doing this thing where every Saturday I’d do a social media detox. I actually haven’t done it in a while and I need to get back to that because I actually really enjoyed that."

"To be fair, on a Sunday I’m never really on my phone, it’s just when I’m posting, I just reply to a few little things. I never reply to anything or go on my phone when I’m switching off, so past 8pm, because I just want to go to sleep. For me, I like doing all my interactive things on my phone during the day, because then I feel like, that’s my work.

For example, if I was going out with my friends, I wouldn’t be on Instagram. I just think that’s the time I’d put my phone away."