What Miriam Petche Can’t Live Without

I went to a dermatologist because I had some sort of acne that was quite difficult to diagnose. We weren’t really sure if it was hormonal or what, but luckily we’ve managed to work through it, and it’s gone now. This lip balm was recommended to me by the dermatologist. But she said just this lip balm, nothing else.

It has the most hydrating, cleanest ingredients. And ever since I’ve used it, I’ve had no problems around that area. That it helped clear up my acne is probably why I’m so attached to it. I was such a sucker for trying every single lip product everywhere, but there are so many different ingredients in products and there’s so many products out there that it’s kind of difficult to know what to use. I really was just sort of seeking a professional’s advice, someone who could say, “Use this, don’t use this.” It’s what’s best if I have any sort of flare-up in the lower half of my face. It’s nothing super fancy, just a solid staple.

I recently redownloadedThe Simson my laptop. A friend of mine suggested it, and I was like,That’s the best idea ever. I think it’s because I spend a lot of the day trying to stay on top of things and manage my own life, so then having that freedom to build these massive houses with pools and gardens and fences and buy all of these animals and let them run free … I suppose it’s quite therapeutic. It’s like a creative outlet outside of acting. I’m building these beautiful houses and making my little crazy families live in there. Oh my goodness, it’s the best time ever. Maybe I need to have a think about why I enjoy controlling other people’s lives inThe Sims. Maybe I need to look into that within myself. But it’s so fun.

I like theGet to Workexpansion pack, because then you can actually go to work with your Sims — originally it would just be, you send them to work, they come back, and then they’re miserable and you’re like,What did you do all day?You can be a doctor, you can be a detective, you can be an actor. Which was a bit weird. I was like,I do that already. I don’t need to pretend to be an actor. There is also asupernatural oneI added on, which is like, you can talk to the ghosts of other family members who’ve passed away. And they have little festivals.

It’s actually my mom’s, but she gave it to me when I went traveling with a friend because I didn’t have one. It’s been incredible. I’m reading theThrone of Glassseries by Sarah J. Maas, and it’s about seven books. There were so many books, I was like,Oh my goodness, how am I going to get through all of these?And the great thing about a Kindle is you don’t see the book size. You don’t feel intimidated. You start it, you connect to it, and then you are in the story. It’s gotten me out of my reading fog.

I do sometimes miss the feeling of an actual book in my hands, but I’m still stuck on my Kindle for the moment. I think it probably is the convenience, because I can put it in my bags — even my small bags — and take it to a café or on a plane. Or if I’m going somewhere for work, I can take it with me. But I also think it’s very cool when someone has the actual physical book in their hands.

There’s a YouTube account calledHyram, which specifically looks at skin care, that I learned about this cleanser from. He speaks about products that he found that work all year round. And for me, in the winter, my skin gets extremely dry. I wanted a cleansing gel that is obviously cleansing but doesn’t really strip you of all of your moisture. It’s one of those cleansing gels that manages to keep the moisture in your face whilst cleansing at the same time. I hadn’t found that before. It’s so gentle. It’s one of those products that I go back to again and again.

It’s like my skin barrier’s emotional-support cream. Whenever my skin is deciding to be dramatic, this calms it down. I’ve been through quite a few moisturizers, and this is the best one. I wear it daily. But I do slap it on whenever I feel like it, to be honest with you. I’m sort of just applying more and more of it whenever I want to. It’s slightly thicker, so I’d say it’s maybe more of a winter time cream. In the U.K., winter tends to last longer than expected. So I use it as long as I can.

As I’m getting older, I’m leaning toward makeup products that act as skin care as well. And this primer’s applicator is like a roller for your face. So it is sort of doing both these things at the same time: calming and depuffing, and then also applying a very quality primer that makes my makeup a lot smoother. I love Refy as a brand — I think it has incredible makeup products, and the quality is incredible. I feel that I can do less on my face. I’m really leaning more toward that personally. I used to go crazy with makeup when I was younger. I used to just pile it on and on and on and on, because I was young and testing it out. This is definitely one of those products that felt like a shift toward me wearing less, embracing my natural face more, and not trying to cover up so much.

It’s beautifully layered. It’s quite delicate. It almost feels like a continuation of your skin-care routine. It’s a very dewy base layer. Sometimes I think when you finish with SPF, depending on which one you have, it can be quite oily or quite cloggy. I feel like putting it on top of my SPF sort of resets the scene for what’s after.

When I was younger, I always wanted the straw nozzle. I always just thought it was really cool and I was always jealous of other kids. Because when you pour the other kind, it sometimes goes down your cheek or whatever. This keeps my water ice cold all day. It’s quite an emotional support for me. I had it from the beginning ofIndustry. I had it with me every time on set. I suppose holding things makes me feel quite safe. It makes me feel grounded. When you have a job like acting when you’re needed in lots of different places and spaces, it’s nice to have your things that you’re like,Okay, that’s going to come with me wherever I go. And I just drink a lot of water. So it’s a two-in-one thing.

I had one in school, so there’s a lot of memories of me on fields outside freezing and wearing my North Face. It’s like a portable duvet that I can wear outside, ideal for surviving winter. I like the look, I think it’s practical, and you can style it as well. I just have the black one. If I’m going to style it with other things, I keep it basic. Recently I’ve been wearing it with a slick-back bun or a ponytail, some sunglasses, and boots or loafers. That sort of sleek look.

This is specifically the kind that goes under your sheet. It reminds me of that feeling when you get into the bath and then your body is heated up from your feet up to the top of your body. I feel like that’s such a luxurious moment that I’m constantly trying to recreate.

I turn it on at the end of the day. I walk around, get a cup of tea, and then by the time I get into my bed, I have that same sensation of getting into a bath. But it’s nice and dry. It’s just the best thing. And I’ll read on my Kindle much longer. I think I’ve realized from my list that I’m cold all of the time, and I’m constantly trying to find ways to heat myself back up again.

[Editor’s note: Miriam’s electric blanket is only available in the United Kingdom. For readers in the United States, the Vermont Country Store makes asimilar product.]

I have it because I’ll work at my desk and then surprise, surprise, my feet are freezing. I’ll have socks and slippers on, but then I’ll have this heater directly on my feet. It keeps me so happy. Now speaking about it so much, I’m like,Should I be concerned about the amount of heat I’m putting on my feet every day?Maybe. But do you know what? That’s a problem for later on down the line. It helps me work. It helps me feel comfortable. It’s just a guilty pleasure, really. I’ll keep it on as long as possible. I hate to say it’s a year-round thing. But if it’s summer, I’ll probably be outside and that will be warming my feet up as well.

[Editor’s note: Miriam’s portable room heater is also only available in the United Kingdom. For readers in the United States, check out our full guide to thebest space heaters.]

I use this for snacks I’m bringing to work, particularly on set. I suppose it was a part of my Sunday routine — or whatever the day was before I was filming. I love cooking. Preparing food is very therapeutic to me. And making little presents for myself, I love that. It makes me feel like I’m taking care of myself. Days on set can vary, but they can be very long days. Sometimes you work for like 15 hours. And I know myself — I’ll need a little pick-me-up or something throughout the day. Snacks will be provided, but I like it if I have my own and it’s made just the way I like it. I like to make dates with peanut butter, cinnamon, dark chocolate, and sea salt. It’s like a little gift from me last night. So I love my little tins. I’d also get little stickers and put them on my tins. I suppose it’s similar to packing yourself a school lunch.

[Editor’s note: Miriam’s tins are only available in the United Kingdom and the European Union. For readers in the United States, check out our full guide to thebest food-storage containers. Additionally, Tinware Direct lists prices in pounds, so price listed is an estimate in USD.]