Be honest: How much time do you spend on your daily beauty beat? Whether your current routine is more beach babe (read: sun-dried strands, minimal makeup) or glam girl (meaning you rock winged liner that could cut glass most days of the week), it’s likely that you devote a decent amount of time to your beauty routine and personal upkeep.
And that daily regimen (whether it’s easy, extra, or somewhere in between) is the ultimate opportunity for sneaking some smart self-care strategies into your day—without sucking more moments from your busy schedule. Ready to get more reward from your rituals? Read on for easy ways to boost your bliss through your beauty routine.
1. Maximize Your Mirror Time with Mantras and Affirmations
Brushing your teeth? Washing your face? Drying your hair? Chances are, you’re staring at a mirror—so use that time wisely. Look at your reflection and take note of all the things you love about what you see: the smattering of freckles on your right cheek, your out-of-control curls, even the little laugh lines around your eyes that serve as a sweet reminder of how much you smile. Or, pick a power mantra to serve as your focus for the week: Just pop it on your mirror with a sticky note and repeat it to yourself—either out loud or in your head—to get a jolt of confidence and set your intentions for the day.
2. Upgrade to Gua Sha
Whether your skincare routine is three steps or, well, a little closer to 13, you’re likely going to spend some time rubbing a serum, cream, or oil into your face. (And maybe all of the above.) But instead of arbitrarily patting and dabbing your face every which way, grab a gua sha stone and work in upward, intentional strokes to stimulate circulation and reduce puffiness. This acts like a mini workout for your skin that leads to a more sculpted appearance. (Check out YouTube and Instagram for easy tutorials to learn the basic technique.) And that rose quartz stone? It’s said to encourage soothing vibes, self-love, and acceptance.
Shop It: Honey Belle Gua Sha Rose Quartz Natural Face Lifting Tool
3. Sneak in a Mini Massage
Soft, hydrated skin feels great—but the way you apply your lotion or body butter can feel even better. Up the effects of your application by using it as the opportunity for a mini massage. As you work in a luxe cream, be sure to rub deeply, knead with your knuckles, and always work in movements going toward your heart: It’ll stimulate the lymphatic system to help your bod detox, improve circulation, and even stimulate feel-good chemicals in your brain. Earn self-care bonus points by expressing appreciation for each body part as you work your way from head to toe (try: “Thank you, legs, for allowing me to bike to work today!” or “I love you, thighs, for supporting my amazing booty”).
Pssst: It’s especially important to reach for a moisturizing formula that’s free of the icky stuff—like parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance—since you’ll be using it on such a large part of your bod. This daily body lotion has a blend of calming botanicals (like lavender and sandalwood) plus soothing CBD all whipped into a deeply moisturizing shea butter and jojoba oil formula. Honeysuckle, vanilla, and rose lend a blissful scent to uplift this daily ritual to a centering aromatherapy experience!
Shop It: Soul Spring Serenity CBD Daily Body Lotion
4. Get a Sounder Sleep
On the self-care spectrum, few things are more important than allowing your body and mind to recharge with some solid shut-eye every night. Want to get the most restorative snooze possible? Even the lowest of lighting (like the faint glow from your alarm clock or the tiny bit of brightness that sneaks in from the street light outside your window) can send wake-up messages to your brain, which suppresses melatonin (the hormone that induces sleep) and makes it harder for you to fall—and stay—in a deep rest. Get the most beneficial beauty sleep by simulating a full blackout courtesy of a silky eye mask.
Shop It: Shhh Silk White Marble Silk Eye Mask
5. Primp Out Your Pillow
It’s also key to consider exactly where you’re placing your precious face and hair for those highly important 8 hours of sleep. Regularly washing your pillowcase is a beauty-routine no-brainer: Aim to do it weekly (if not more) to avoid bacteria build-up that could cause breakouts. And if you really want to bring some next-level beauty benefits to your bed? Invest in a soft satin pillowcase that can help reduce wrinkles and hair breakage (which, sadly, cotton is said to cause). As you fall asleep, skip the sheep—and instead, count all the things you’re grateful for that day.
Shop It: Madison & White Bedtime Beauty Satin Pillowcase
6. Take a Cold Shower
You know that bathing in tropical temps can suck the moisture from your skin—but there’s an even better reason to keep the water a little frosty. According to studies, cold showers can alleviate and prevent depression by stimulating a part of your brain called the “blue spot.” For the feel-good benefits, researchers recommend two to three minutes of 68-degree H2O, preceded by a five-minute gradual adaptation to that temp. Pair with an energy-boosting shower gel to invigorate your A.M. beauty routine.
Shop It: This Works Energy Bank Shower Gel
7. Give Yourself a More Mindful Manicure
Between texting and typing, you probably spend a lot of time staring at your fingertips—so give yourself a more “mindful manicure” that will gently remind you to take a few moments for yourself to disconnect and decompress during the day. The Serene Slate collection by Essie features a pretty palette of soothing shades (think: dusty pink, glimmery greige, and muted eucalyptus) with names like Wire-less Is More, Cause & Reflect, Press Pause and Serene Slate. The next time you shoot off an important email that was stressing you out? Let your color be a cue to take 5 deep breaths and quickly reset before tackling your next to-do.
Shop It: Essie Serene Slate Collection
8. Spritz a Mood-Boosting Scent
Swap your standard perfume for a non-toxic hydrosol. Created by distilling fresh leaves, fruits, and flower, hydrosol sprays are completely pure—meaning you can spray them all over your face, body, hair (wherever!) for a refreshing burst of soothing fragrance that can actually alter your mindset thanks to the power of scent therapy. Want to amp up your attitude, for example? Reach for jasmine: Participants in a study on jasmine inhalation reported feeling more positive, energetic, and romantic. Swoon.
Shop It: Shea Brand Jasmine Hydrosol
Did you try any of the self-care hacks for your beauty routine? Tell us in the comments!
Kelsey Haywood Lucas is a beauty and wellness editor, author and content producer. Follow her on Instagram for beauty unboxings, skincare reviews, puppy pics, and lifestyle hacks.
This post was originally published in September 2019 and as been updated with new content.
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