Everyone needs a little time to take care of themselves, and throughout a tough 2020, we've learnt that self care is necessary to replenish your mind and body.

Our number one go-to when we want to spoil ourselves is obviously jewellery, so if you haven't added one of our new hair clips or Daffodil pieces (restock coming on 15th April) to your collection, you definitely should! But we also love treating ourselves to things that bring us calm and comfort around the house.

Here, we've listed a few of our favourite things from small businesses that help us to relax and reset.

1. A great smelling candle

Whether you’re a morning candle lighter, or prefer a cosy candlelit evening, we can all agree that a nice candle can change your whole room and mood.

We have a few wonderful fragrances from Earl of East London, that perfectly fill the room with natural scents and burn for what seems like forever (40 hours). We’re also huge fans of their new minimal packaging that looks good on coffee tables, desks or by the bath.

1. A chocolatey treat

Experience has proven that chocolate is the reigning champion of self-care snacks, but when we’re feeling extra bougie, we like to move away from our corner shop staple (KitKat Chunky we see you, but we’re feeling fancy today). The chocolate from small business Heist hits all the luxury spots. It’s organic, stone ground and made in small batches over in Cardiff. We have a few flavours available, with an option for the vegans out there too!

3. The pamper that your skin deserves

Another essential component of the self-care routine is a face mask, and who doesn’t love adding a step into their beauty routine? We are addicted to trying new products that promise to make us glow, and we’ve heard great things about the BYBI Beauty Acid Gold AHA Face Mask.

By exfoliating skin, gently removing dead skin cells and giving a boost of regenerative nutrients, you’ll look like a new person in addition to felling like one.

4. The body cream of dreams

Now that your face has had a nice pampering, it's time to take care of your body. The Neroli & Petitgrain Body Cream from Austin Austin has become a favourite of the W&M team.

Based in Norfolk, Austin Austin are a father-daughter duo making simple yet scrumptious body lotions and soaps using only organic ingredients.

5. A journal for your thoughts

We love a journal moment. Whether you’re well versed in bullet journalling, like to sketch or just jot down random ideas, writing down feelings and thoughts is a great way to reflect and keep yourself present.

These weekly planners from Moglea are hand painted and all completely unique! Plan your weeks and days to make the most of your time, or fill it in in retrospect to remember what you did in 2021.

6. A way to get creative

There's something very therapeutic about doing getting creative and our Paint Your Own Puzzle & Wall Hangings are a lovely way to have moment to yourself, and a nice break from your computer screen or phone.

Make it completely your own and keep the wooden pieces loose for a fun puzzle that you can entertain guests with, or glue them down and display your masterpiece somewhere in your home.

7. Natural, handmade, nourishing soap

It’s hard to think of a product that does more universal good than these soaps by Tanaka. As well as supporting a brand new, black owned, independent UK business, you’ll be making an eco-conscious swap from often overly-packaged soap and giving your skin a treat! Take our word for it that these soaps are gorgeously scented, and each are catered to help your skin in the way you need, whether it’s a gulp of moisture, exfoliation or a deep detox.

8. A natural, eco-conscious face covering

Now that we’re slowly getting out and about more, we’re upping our mask game again so we can keep ourselves and others healthy. What we’ve learnt from this last year is that natural fabrics are not only better for the environment but also for our skin. We’ve found some affordable ones from eco-conscious brand WAWWA. Made from organic cotton and delivered in plant based packaging.

9. A blanket that's fun and functional

If curling up on the sofa in front of your favourite film isn't self-care then we don't know what is. We love a blanket moment, and these fun ones from L.A. based Valfre caught our eye. We love the zodiac theme and strong feminine energy in the illustrations. Throw it over yourself on the sofa or take it to the park and have a peaceful picnic-for-one.

10. A duvet cover worth staying in bed for

Sometimes, self-care means staying in bed, but fresh bedding is a must, and new bedding is the ultimate luxury. We’ve got our eye on a Percale Bedding set from Telka Fabrics, made using 100% organic and Oeko-Text certified cotton which has been stonewashed to give it that soft, slept-in feel. The only hard decision is choosing which colour we want.