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 Laura Whitmore, the Irish TV presenter, author and actress who is loved for being delightfully down-to-earth and someone we would want to be BFFs with IRL.
Laura has hosted everything from MTV and I’m a Celebrity to Love Island. She also hosts the brilliant true-crime podcast, 'Partners in Crime' alongside her husband, Iain Stirling. Oh, and we recommend listening immediately.
Plus, her brand new chat show ‘The Laura Whitmore Breakfast Show’ begins today on ITV1 at 8.30 am and her investigative series is set to launch later this year on ITV, and is bound to have us glued to our screens.
Laura has also worked with Dare 2B as an ambassador for the stylish performance-wear brand, known for its babein' gym sets, skiwear and activewear gear.
Laura chats exclusively to heat about her self-care Sunday routine, make-up for filming and her favourite wellness habits for feeling her best self...
On self-care Sundays
What does the perfect Sunday look like for Laura?
"Well, I am happy to have my Sundays back because I normally work on Sundays, but I have had the past few Sundays off which has been lovely. So for me, the morning starts off with walking the dog, which in itself is lovely to be out in nature. I just throw on some comfortable leggings, trainers and a few layers.
"For me, making a coffee in the morning is a ritual, I also love yoga, but I could just do that at home, I like things that can be just part of your day. So some yoga, a coffee, I have got a coffee machine that is just way too big for the kitchen but it makes very good coffee. And then relaxation. I love listening to podcasts and I love running a bath. I love a bath with all the products and doing a face mask. Oh, there is this scrumptious face mask from 111SKIN. There is a rose gold one which is absolutely lush And they have got a black diamond one as well and that is such a nice once-a-week treat."
On skincare
"My mum brought me up to cleanse, tone and moisturise because there are so many products on the market and I don't know what half of them do. But I always know there's a cleanser, toner and moisturiser, and that's the order you do it in. You clean your face, you tone it and then you moisturise after that. But you can use cold water as a toner, which is my ultimate beauty budget buy, water is free.
"You know what is great as well - Dr PawPaw. I worked in Australia for years and Dr PawPaw is similar to Era cream or Vaseline, but Dr PawPaw Original Balm is brilliant for chapped lips, especially in the wintertime for your fingers or cuticles. It won’t break the bank!"
On make-up for filming
Laura looked sensational when hosting Love Island (as well as her many telly gigs) so which products does she love for filming? Spoiler alert: it's all about a natural base.
"I’ve got so many. I really love the product that's on the market at the moment by REFY. The Brow Sculpt is cruelty-free and it’s great for your brows. It has a little brush for your brows and a little gel in that and that is fantastic.
"I am also a big fan of Fenty Beauty and I use the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb a lot because it stays. A lot of gloss doesn’t stay on for that long and Fenty gloss always does. Thank you, Rihanna!
"I find on telly there is this narrative that you should wear a lot of make-up or thick make-up. I quite like light make-up that reflects. So, I love Charlotte Tilbury's Flawless Filter, I wear it in 3.5 or 4 depending on the time of the year. I wear it outside of filming as well.
"Iconic London does a really great highlighter that's not too much under the camera lights. Sometimes the camera lights can make it look more, especially a HD camera so it is best to go less is more believe it or not.
"My favourite red lipstick is Trish McEvoy in red which is just fantastic and then there's another one I loved, HighR Collective. It's a cruelty-free brand and I try and use cruelty-free brands as much as possible."
On her morning routine
"I guess there's not a lot of time if I have some time to myself before I have to do all my obligations with the family. My ultimate morning routine would probably be to wash my hair is good or do a hair mask, a nice luxury hair mask is always lovely. Or if I do have time I might do an oxygenation mask from Shane Cooper because it is instant radiance and hydration, so it’s like a foam you put on your face, leave for a few minutes and wash it off, I’ll do that a few times a week or even once a week. So I’ll try and do that if I have an extra few minutes to myself."
On life-changing books
"I could be really naughty and mention my own book here because that did change my life, writing a book changed my life. I wrote a book called No One Can Change Your Life Expect For You so as much as we rely on other people to change our life, the only person at the end of the day who can do anything, or will have the biggest impact on your life is you. It seems really basic but it took me a long time to realise. So, to be self-indulgent, that was probably the biggest change for me and the biggest game changer for me was writing that and hearing how people have reacted to that has been really lovely."
SHOP: No One Can Change Your Life Except For You by Laura Whitmore
On daily wellness habits
"Water. I try and drink as much as possible. A few of my friends have them ginormous water bottles, you know the ridiculous ones. I don’t carry them around because they won’t fit in my bag but I do try and drink as much as possible. It seems obvious but sometimes you can go by without drinking much water and snacking. I always have little snacks and lots of stuff in my bag, because I just get hangry if I don’t eat especially if I do something that runs over. Plus everything always runs over in this industry. So always have snacks because no one wants to work with you if you’re hangry,(that's hungry and angry by the way!)"
Quickfire round:
What show are you currently watching? I’m not watching as much telly as I would like to I’m more of a binging because I am not really around at normal times to watch telly and then I end up binging it all in one go. I have started watching Daisy and The Six on Amazon. Another plug, Date My Mate is a new telly show that I have narrated, which is lovely.
How do you like your cuppa? I bring my own tea bags over from Ireland, I like Lyon's Gold Blend. My mum always brings over boxes when she comes over and there are places in London you can get them from. I like it strong with a splash of oat milk.
Go-to loungewear brand? My go-to loungewear is from Dare 2B, it is very cosy and perfect for every day.
I’ve got a few favourite products from working with Dare 2b. The green turquoisey Influential Recycled Leggings and Mantra Bra, are probably my favourite two-piece.
I also really like theLavishly Hooded Puffer Jacket and if I am honest I just throw it over whatever I am wearing in the morning when I am taking the dog on a walk. It is very practical. That is probably the piece I wear the most.
Favourite face mask? The 111SKIN face masks are really great I like to use them on planes.
Go-to takeaway order? At the moment I am really liking a good Indian restaurant near us and I like a veggie korma there or I like a little bit of sushi, it's usually one or the other. Or curry chips from the chipper, we got a really good chipper around the corner, it is really hard to pick one!
Favourite candle? I am a little obsessed with candles I have far too many in the house. I love a Diptyque and I have got a few scents of them. I have just tried a new brand actually that I have here. It's from a brand called Discothèque and it is in the scent Mudblud. It smells like chocolate and caramel and it is really delicious, it is very pretty as well. I love a candle, if you’re wondering what to get me as a present, get me a candle!