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We love a bit of self-care and all this time at home 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 Holly Brooks, the TikTok star who has built her combined 400k following thanks to her delicious yet easy-to-cook recipes that prove you can still enjoy your favourite foods when you're on a fitness journey. It's everything in moderation, people.
As well as collaborating with huge brands, Holly has partnered with fitness app Shreddy as a 'challenger', AKA, the person who helps you stay cheery and motivated during those dark, dark winter mornings.
Holly chats exclusively to heat about starting her TikTok channel, life-changing books and her ultimate self-care Sunday...
On self-care Sundays
"Self-care to me is keeping myself organised and stress-free. So every Sunday I set out the upcoming week. I'll sit down and go through my plans, my work or workouts I'm going to fit in a week, what food I'm going to be eating and I always make sure to do my food shop. Getting those things in place is what helps me unwind afterwards, I can't relax until I've got my structure in place.
"I'm quite boring with my chilling if I'm honest. I can just happily sit and watch TikToks. The one thing that helps me really relax is the Molten Brown Ylang-Ylang candle. That and a face mask and I can just sit there for the rest of the evening before getting an early night."
On TikTok
"I had been on my fitness journey for around six months and I had TikTok, but I never posted anything. Then one day I saw somebody do a 'what I eat in a day' video and I'd realised at this point of my journey that eating healthily was a lot more than just chicken salads. The video was very regimented, so I wanted to post one that showed all the fun things you can still eat whilst achieving your fitness goals.
"My first video didn't blow up, but it got around 10,000 views and it felt like to coolest thing ever. It inspired me to film some more and it just took off from there. It's bizarre because that one platform has changed my life."
On being a Shreddy challenger
"When they emailed about the opportunity, it was such a no brainer decision for me. So I've followed Grace [Beverley, founder of Shreddy] since the very beginning, her original YouTube channel when she was studying at Oxford. When she first ever launched the Grace Fit Guide, I think it was in 2014 and it was this PDF. I remember being so excited to download the PDF and start doing the workouts. I've kind of watched it progress through like from that to Shreddy. So to have the opportunity to be a part of it was the easiest decision of my life.
"My role within Shreddy at the moment is as a challenger for the current eight-week challenge. That basically just involves me doing the challenge alongside all the thousands of other women that are competing it and then using my page and platform to help them with their journeys, keeping everyone motivated and showing my own struggles.
"Like this morning, I was talking about the workout I did and how much I struggle with burpees. I think sometimes people think that if you have a fitness page, you can do absolutely everything so easily. I was just like, 'No, I'm finding this just as hard as you guys!'."
On fitness tips for beginners
"I would say, making sure that you're doing something that you enjoy. Throughout years of dieting and trying to get into fitness, the one thing that let me down every time was trying to follow what somebody else was doing and eating to get fit and healthy. It wasn't actually stuff that I truly liked. The most successful fitness journeys come from when you're actually enjoying and really loving the process.
"I've had girls say to me saying, 'I hate going to the gym' and I'm like, 'Don't go to the gym!' There are so many other forms of exercise that you'll probably enjoy. You can try swimming, you can try team sports like netball. The same goes with diet. If you don't enjoy eating salads every day, you don't need to incorporate them to reach your fitness goals."
On budget beauty buys
"It has to be the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I've never found a foundation that even comes close to it. I think I've been wearing it for the last three years and I don't think I'll ever change. It's my absolute favourite and I get lots of compliments about it too. I think people always expect it to be a higher price point and are always shocked. It's definitely my ride-or-die foundation."
On skincare
"I'm super simple with skincare. I always start with the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser , then I wack some Pixi Toner on my face and then with AM or PM CeraVe moisturiser depending on what time it is. Those three things are the super simple steps that I follow.
"For body cream, I've just started using the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and I am obsessed. It's honestly the nicest smell in the world, my boyfriend is always like, 'You're wearing that smell again!'"
On gratitude journals
"I have a gratitude journal, I started that about a year ago and I love to incorporate it into my every day because I think sometimes, especially with personal achievements and things that are going well in our lives, it's hard to kind of express them to other people without sounding slightly like you're boasting. So I think having a gratitude journal, you sit down and be proud of your own accomplishments in it. Being grateful for things that are going on in life is really, really important. It's just nice to kind of take that time. I don't do it religiously, but it's just nice to take that time to reflect."
On life-changing books
"I love The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I first read it around two or three years ago and when I first picked it up, I was sceptical about it all. I wouldn't say it's something that I've tried to preach or practise, but it did really help me change the way that I act and react to certain situations. It opened my eyes up to another way of thinking and processing things. It also helped me stay really focused on my goals."
Quickfire round:
What show are you currently watching? The Tourist on BBC1.
How do you like your cuppa? Inbetween, not too milky and not too strong either.
Go-to loungewear brand? Definitely TALA.
Favourite face mask? TheCharlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask .
Go-to takeaway order? It has to be an Indian, but from my local takeaway from my home in Kent. I always get a king prawn delight with mushroom rice and lots of poppadoms. It's my absolute favourite.
Favourite candle? The Molten Brown Ylang-Ylang candle .
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