March 05, 2020

Mindful beauty routine

How to build mindfulness into your beauty routine

“I’m just not that busy..” – said no woman ever. Because let’s face it, life shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With all this go-go-go though it’s easy to lose yourself (and your mind) a little and forget to actually breathe. This is where mindfulness comes in.

For the unacquainted, mindfulness is a practice that helps you be fully present and engaged in the moment you are in. That is; you are free from distraction, intrusive thoughts, self-judgement, and although you are aware of your feelings, you don’t dwell on them. It’s linked to meditation as this is how one builds and practises the art of “this moment” awareness. And, like lifting weights will help build body muscle, through meditation we can build the muscles in our mind and hone the skills to keep bringing ourselves back to the moment. Mindfulness is beneficial for many reasons, including reducing stress, sleeping better, improving concentration and helping to build resilience so that you can deal with life’s challenges better.

Sounds pretty good, right? So does this all relate to beauty? Well, mindfulness is all about taking those everyday routines and turning them into cherished rituals. So the whole cleanse/ serum/ moisturise gig? It doesn’t have to be a race to the finish line each day. Here are some of our best tips for taking a moment and incorporating mindfulness into your beauty routine.

Connect with your skin: It’s not as hippie as it sounds. Just as you wake each morning and feel into your body (Do I feel tired? Energised? Achy?), this is a way of checking in with your skin to see what it needs from you. Depending on the weather, where you are at in your cycle, your diet, and even the glasses of wine you had last night, your skin will need different things. So take the time each morning to look in the mirror and see what today brings. Getting this intimately acquainted with your skin will allow you to best address what it needs – and your skin will be better for it.

Start in the shower: For many, the shower is already a beloved ritual. So try upping the ante by doing this: buy a shower gel you really truly connect with and love. If your stress is skyrocketing, try one with calming oils like lavender. Breathe in deep, and exhale the stress away as you wash, literally envisaging it running down the drain with the suds.

And exhale: Just like in the shower, take a moment to stop and breathe. Inhale in the scents of the products you’re using, especially if they contain essential oils like citrus (for an energy boost) or lavender, vetiver and frankincense for their soothing qualities.Your sense of smell is the most powerful and emotive of all the senses, so taking this time to inhale will also help transport you to a calm, happy place. Breathing deeply will also help to switch on the parasympathetic nervous system which allows you whole body to relax.

Slow it down: You know how you eat more when you’re distracted? When you’re not in the moment you’re also more likely to use/waste more product as you slap them on and run out the door. That, and rushing your application means the ingredient won’t work to their optimum potential. So, slowly does it.

Take time to lovingly apply each step of your skincare routine. You can use intentions or self-love mantras as you apply if you need a little extra uplift in your day. Massage each product in gently, and allow for a minute or two between each step. For cleansers this will allow for a deeper clean and for serums and moisturisers it will help the active ingredients to sink in and do their job better, meaning better skin all round.

The benefits: As we have mentioned, incorporating mindfulness into your beauty routine won’t just help your stress levels and mental health (which is a huge plus). It will also benefit your skin, as you will be more attuned to its needs, and the products will also work to their full potential. So take the time to breath, enjoy and watch your skin glow as a result.