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 Sophia Tuxford and Cinzia Baylis-Zullo who are best known for co-hosting The Girls Bathroom podcast. During the chart-topping, weekly show (bi-weekly if you've signed up to their Patreon!) the BFFs work hard to solve listener's dilemmas in a no-nonsense yet compassionate way. From a 'Brian' who won't commit to dealing with a passive-aggressive flatmate to achieving your dreams - Sophia and Cinzia are here to help you navigate through life in your twenties and beyond.
In fact, the podcast is such a success that the girls have even announced a brand new 'The Girls Bathroom - Planet Tour' which kicks off in September 2024 (and you can still buy tickets here).
If that's not enough, Sophia and Cinzia star in the brand-new Debenhams Wonderland is Waiting campaign alongside mega household names including Alison Hammond, Sophie Habboo, and Lisa Snowdon. We are living 👏.
To celebrate the new campaign, the podcast duo chat exclusively to heat about their self-care routines, beauty favourites and really wise advice...
Hey girls! Congrats on your exciting campaign with Debenhams - what can we expect?
Cinzia: We love Christmas and we’ve never been part of a Christmas campaign, so when this came up we thought, ‘Oh my god, we love make-up, we love fashion...'
Sophia: We have the coolest theme, ours is like glacier, we’re snow queens and we’re giving ice princess vibes.
Cinzia: It’s giving Frozen, honestly, because after the shoot I went to go and see Frozen the Musical and it was literally the same vibe.
Sophia: We are like Anna and Elsa.
Cinzia: We were wearing a full face of MAC and wore a Christmassy red lip which was very festive.
What are your favourite styling tricks at the moment?
Sophia: Layering. Now it’s cosy season we’re into coats, I’ve got some really nice cardigans… I’m yet to bring out my scarf. I love feeling cosy. That autumn/winter fashion... it’s a good time.
Cinzia: We were saying today how cold it has turned literally this weekend and it’s literally beanie, scarf and gloves weather, especially if we’re going to be on the Lime bikes, we’re going to need some mittens, don’t we?
Sophia: It’s also UGG season and we’ve fallen for the platform UGGs. We didn’t fall for it last year, but this year the bank accounts have taken a hit
Cinzia: I reckon you can call a Stanley Cup an accessory as well, even though Sophia hasn’t got one yet!
Can you talk us through your ultimate self-care Sunday?
Sophia: I feel like self-care depends on what kind of mood you’re in. Sometimes I’m definitely in the mood to do nothing and I’m like, ‘This is the best day ever’ but I feel like I’m very much a person who’s like: ‘Tidy space, tidy mind.’
I like to have an organised space, I like to clean my house, my room… but you know on a Sunday when you do a big clean, then you light the candles and you sit down and you’re like, ‘I’ve done it!’ That to me is some form of self-care. Just being able to relax in a clean, organised space is so nice, because I’ve been moving house recently and I’ve really remembered the joy of having a tidy space. When your stuff is all in boxes you’re like, ‘Oh my god, this is chaos!’ I would say in some ways that's a form of self-care - organising my space.
Cinzia: I just want to be in my dressing gown all day, then put a face mask on and light some candles. Candles are very important, I think. I like setting the scene and putting a fake fireplace on the TV, I think that just makes everything so cosy.
What are the skincare products you're recommending to friends right now?
Cinzia: I love the brand Medik8, I’ve been getting a lot of hormonal breakouts along my jaw so I’ve been looking for the best spot treatment. I’ve tried loads of spot patches in the last couple of weeks and spot stuff, but the Medik8 Blemish Sos Treatment has been the best thing I’ve used. It’s incredible, it dries them out and it’s my go-to right now.
Sophia: I love their retinol as well, I use that maybe like three or four times a week and I have done for quite a while, so would definitely recommend.
Cinzia: We are in our SPF era right now because well, we’re not there yet but the late twenties are approaching and we’re keeping the skin in check with the SPF.
Sophia: I’m using the Ultraviolette SPF and it’s really good. I also love the Zitsticka SPF and I went through bottles and bottles of it, but one time it was out of stock and I had to find a replacement.
Cinzia: The Ultravoilette is so good because it’s not white and it’s got a slight tint.
What’s your ultimate budget beauty buy?
Sophia: It’s got to be Garnier Micellar water. They’re coming up to their ten-year anniversary, which I think is crazy that there has been ten years of the Micellar water. It’s just a basic, you can’t go wrong.
Cinzia: I’ve always got a bottle of that to hand, it’s useful in so many ways.
www.debenhams.com
What's a genius make-up tip you've learned recently?
Cinzia: I would say contouring with a darker foundation and just using concealer. I bought a foundation stick in a darker shade that would match my contour from Hourglass and I’ve really been loving that. Then just the Hourglass Concealer for my base, it’s so full coverage but it doesn’t dry and it’s just so creamy.
Sophia: We’re also big tinted moisturiser fans. We’ve been using this YSL tinted moisturiser since the start of summer and we love it.
What are your daily wellness habits to ensure you feel your best self?
Sophia: I would probably say working out. I really enjoy… well, I don’t enjoy it when my alarm is going off, but after I’ve done it, I really enjoy it. Waking up, doing it first thing and getting it out of the way for the day. I try and do that a few times a week. I think it sets you up for the day and makes you feel good.
Cinzia: I would say working out too, as annoying and boring and as much you don’t want to do it, you never regret a workout and it really helps your mind and body.
Sophia: It’s nice to have some no phone time, some downtime, thinking about something else if you're stressed about stuff. Sometimes it’s nice to go into the gym and it helps you forget about things for an hour or so.
What's your go-to workout at the moment?
Cinzia: We go through phases of what we like to do all the time. We had our F45 era where we were going to these F45 classes five times a week and that was quite an intense time.
Sophia: We’ve tried pilates, but it’s just so expensive. It’s like, ‘If I go three times a week, that’s going to cost you.” But yeah, I’m just mainly weights and I really enjoy rowing. Not on a lake, on a rowing machine! We love getting our steps in as well.
Cinzia: My favourite, most effective workout is the step machine. It’s the worst, but it’s the quickest to get something done. It’s horrible but the best after!
Sophia: We also love the 3 -12-30.
Cinzia: Yes we love that, the treadmill uphill walk. That’s just easy, well, not easy but feels less mentally challenging than a full hour workout of jumping around.
Sophia: It’s also nice if you’ve got a bit of gym anxiety because you can just go in there and do your whole workout on the machine. You’re not having to look about at who’s on what, you’re just in, you do that for half an hour and then you can go and you’ve really got a sweat on.
What are your top book recommendations?
Sophia: I’ve got loads! I love Lisa Jewell, I read her book called None Of This Is True. A friend bought me that for my birthday in the summer and it was really good. Anything by Lisa Jewell is good. Coleen Hoover, she’s a classic. She’s got the romance novels. I also love Liane Moriarty, she’s got really good ones. Apples Never Fall was a good one, I gave it to my mum recently to read. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is The Hunger Games prequel - we love that one.
Cinzia: I read The Summer I Turned Pretty books. There are three books and I went through a The Summer I Turned Pretty fanatic phase. They were really good.
You are famed for giving great advice, but what's the best advice you've been given?
Sophia: At the end of every podcast episode we try and find a quote from Pinterest. We love Pinterest, we’re always pinning quotes or outfit inspo or home inspo and that’s a really nice way to end the episode. We do have some good quotes, we love quotes that are like ‘What is meant for you is yours’. Those types of vibes.
Cinzia: We love it if you’re ever going through something knowing that this is not permanent, this too shall pass. It’s comforting to know that in six months' time, I’ll be feeling so much better about the situation. I probably won’t even be thinking of the situation. In the moment it can be so all-consuming, so just having faith that things are going to pass is quite powerful. Also, 'Boys come and go', we always say that!
Sophia: We had a good quote I think it was last week or the week before and it was like, ‘“Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace.’
Cinzia: Yeah, worrying only makes you go makes you go through it twice because you're worrying about it. And then it may or may not happen. And then if it happens, you're going through it again, because you've been worrying about it.
Quickfire round:
Show you’re currently binging?
Cinzia: Married At First Sight UK, it’s an incredible show.
Sophia: For me, Selling Sunset.
Go-to cuppa?
Sophia: I’m in the Velvetiser era.
Cinzia: I actually made one the other night with the Oatly Barista and just the classic chocolate sachet and it was amazing.
Favourite loungewear brand?
Both: SKIMS!
Go-to take away order?
Sophia: A Margarita pizza.
Cinzia: Sushi.
Everyday perfume?
Cinzia: For me, it’s Delina Exclusif. It’s an incredible scent, I’ve been wearing it all year.
Sophia: I actually don’t have it right now and need to re-buy, but it’s my favourite. Any of the Kilians, Good Girl Gone Bad, Love Don’t Be Shy, those are my two faves.
Favourite candle?
Cinzia: Mine is Labo 26, so good.
Sophia: That’s my favourite as well or any of the Diptyque candles. They’re almost too nice to light, they’re so pretty.