Today, apparently, is the most depressing day of the year. The rather hopeless moniker Blue Monday has been selected for Monday January 17 because of where it sits in the calendar. According to experts, the third Monday of January is a perfect storm of post-holiday blues, anxiety over money (because, January) and gloomy weather – it’s also the point at which many of us abandon any new year’s resolutions we’d so gleefully set out just a few weeks previous. 

In light of the day it is, THE GLOSS team share the micro moments keeping them buoyant right now.

My mother gifted me a virtual Vitamin C facial for Christmas and what a treat it turned out to be: a facial, from the comfort of my own home. I received a Dermalogica one-use facial pack from expert Sheena O’Malley of Reflexions Beauty Salon in the post. The large envelope housed about 15 or so single portion size sachets of the necessary products, all of which were handily numbered on the back in order of use. On a set evening, I logged on to a Zoom video call (I prefered to have my camera off) with about ten other customers. I was asked to have a mirror (so you can see what you are doing), scissors (to open the testers), one or two bowls of warm water (Dermalogica products love water), two mini sponges (provided) and two dessert spoons (I wasn’t sure what these were for?).

I was also advised to set aside some me-time for the facial: light a candle, put on some relaxing music, and pour myself a cup of tea (the most delicious Womankind Pukka cranberry and vanilla) that was provided in the pack. Connemara-based salon owner Sheena O’Malley then walked us through the entire facial process step-by-step via a video call and even delivered a mini lymphatic facial-massage masterclass (that’s what the two dessert spoons were for). This was the best part, taking the time to massage your cheeks, forehead, decollage and jawline using her well-honed techniques. My complexion was glowing by the end of the hour session. And for those of you who think you might be missing out on the personal touch, you’re surprisingly not. Priced at just €25, it is excellent value for money and is a lovely idea for a virtual get-together with friends or family around the world. Reflexions Beauty Salon, 087 367 5770.

My great escape is always getting stuck into a good book. It’s easy to forget your own problems and worries when you get tangled in the lives of others. My favourite recent reads were Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These and a recently published novella by Simone de Beauvoir, The Inseparables. Both are short, concise novels which you could easily get through in a slow January afternoon – I always find shorter, engaging books are a good entryway to ease you back into the swing of reading if you’ve fallen out of the habit like many of us have done at different stages during the pandemic. This evening, to beat any Monday blues I’ll map out the next few books I want to read – I also find this helps if you’re trying to read more as you always have another book lined up without having to think about what to buy or read next.

I’ve returned to lots of my lockdown habits to get through January, including pier walks (pictured) and online Pilates classes. Pilates sounds boringly worthy, but it does make you feel so much better – it’s so good for stretching, strengthening, realigning and for sorting your lower back when you’ve been sitting all day. And you don’t have to leave the house. Mostly though I’m drinking lots of coffee and watching The Morning Show (late to the party, but loving it – and yes, still in awe of Jennifer Aniston’s hair) and reading My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley – it’s fascinating, especially for those with a complicated mother/daughter relationship.

For a little luxury, I’m delighting in Sisley’s refillable new lip colours, Phyto Rouge Shine, launching February 1 (€43, with refills at €34) – they are so balmy and hydrating, with the most beautiful texture (ideal for an older lipstick-lover, who needs more moisture and softness, rather than harsh mattes), plus a delicious caramel taste and such pretty shades (go for no.42, a beautiful wintery berry, or no.11, a creamy rose-petal dusty pink, Sheer Blossom). They don’t have endless staying power, but half the pleasure is reapplying them. Small but perfect.

What lifts my spirits right now is the garden. More precisely, not the garden as it is now but rather how it will be when spring finally comes to. It’s so hard to imagine any kind of growth or colour when everything is buried under a blanket of winter frost, dead to the world. So, for some inspiration, I’ve been looking back on images of my petite courtyard in its prime last July. The purpose of this isn’t to pat myself on the back, rather to devise some kind of strategy (if that is at all possible in something as untethered as a garden space): to examine what worked, what didn’t, the colours I lacked terribly (blues and yellows), the colours I had often had too much of (pink) and – here comes the fun bit – what I’d like to grow this year. The recent purchase of Arthur Parkinson’s tome The Flower Yard is both educational and inspiring, too. I love seeing how Parkinson combines colours, textures and plants I’ve never heard of. For anyone who has limited space like me it’s a perfect read as Parkinson plants exclusively in pots. Audiophiles can enjoy Parkinson in conversation with seed savant Sarah Raven in the podcast Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange: the duo cover everything from the best kind of cut flowers for your garden, to the correct way to sow sweet pea – a job that’s on my to-do list this week. This year I’ll be seeking out some novel shades of sweet pea. On my wish-list is sweet pea Night and Day, a long-stemmed bloom in contrasting shades of burgundy and white. It’s a vigorous climber and the scent, as you can imagine, is rather divine.

Almost 20 years ago my mum and I had a joint Colour Me Beautiful consultation which provided advice not only on the most flattering colours to wear given our hair, eyes and skin tone but provided tips on the best  jewellery, accessories and make-up. At the time, I was a “Cool Winter” and always received compliments when I stayed within my palette. In the interim my hair style and colour has changed (multiple times) and I’ve often felt drained, rather than invigorated, by my wardrobe. One of my new year’s resolutions is to wear less black and to help kickstart this resolve, my mum and I returned for a follow-up consultation last week with Joan Rolston, a Belfast-based Colour Me Beautiful consultant. This provided the inspiration needed to ditch the dull in favour of the “dopamine”.

My happiest hues are apparently jewel, vibrant colours rather than on-trend neutrals, and I am editing my wardrobe accordingly. I definitely recommend this sort of session. There are colour consultants and stylists in every county in Ireland including Sarah Rickard who offers one-to-one bespoke styling appointments at her home in Ratoath, Co Meath and has launched an online boutique of flattering easy-to-wear staples; www.styledby.ie. In Dublin, Ruth Murphy of Positive Image offers a personal and corporate image consultancy service, colour analysis, personal shopping, wardrobe weeding, styling and make-up lessons; www.positiveimage.ie.