At the end of last year, I decided that I needed to add some more intentional beauty rituals into my life as a form of self-care. To give credit where credit is due, I was inspired to create beauty routines or rituals while I was reading Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty. In the book, the former monk talks about how having daily rituals, habits, and practices is soothing given how many choices we are bombarded with every single day. But why did I choose to focus on beauty rituals as opposed to any other kind of rituals? Am I simply motivated by vanity?
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Absolutely not! Sure, it’s easy to think of a beauty ritual as an act of vanity, but I prefer to think of it as an act of self-care, because I believe that we are all beautiful and deserve to treat ourselves as the beautiful creatures that we are. Also, since I was reading his book while I was taking a bath, which is one way that I regularly de-stress, it made me realize that I already have so many opportunities in my life to create rituals around my beauty regimen—and you do too! Check out some of the ways that you can make yourself feel beautiful while de-stressing.
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Hydrate your skin intentionally and lovingly.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I was raised with that mantra, and I’ve embraced it, because when I neglect my moisturizing routine, my skin doesn’t feel good and I don’t feel good. Here’s how I’ve turned moisturizing into a ritual: I buy myself moisturizers that my skin loves, and when I apply the moisturizer, I do it slowly and massage it into my skin. In the past, I was guilty of slapping it on without even paying attention to my methodology.
Find an easy way to keep track of your water intake.
My family gave me a Venture Pal water bottle that is marked with water drinking goals for each hour. It seems like a silly thing, because surely I should be able to keep track of how many glasses of water I’ve had, but I lose track all the time. Ever since this water bottle came into my life, though, I know for sure if I’m drinking enough water. And guess what? I feel better for it.
Protect your skin from the sun.
We all need to be wearing sunblock regardless of the shade of our skin. It’s important and can save us from developing skin cancer. I treat myself to Unsun Mineral face sunscreen. It is tinted and looks great on my face. Other brands I’ve tried tend to be chalky and feel tacky; this one feels like I’m wearing nothing but protects my face from the sun nonetheless. I apply it intentionally and lovingly in upward strokes, and it feels like I’m getting a facial massage every morning.
Prioritize sleep.
I love to sleep! I always have, but I don’t always get enough sleep because I am guilty of scrolling on my phone while in bed. Well, now, instead of scrolling before bed, I read a book for a set amount of time and then actually turn off the lights and go to sleep.
Keep lavender-scented lotion on your nightstand.
Lavender helps you relax and fall asleep. Keep a lavender-scented lotion next to your bed and massage it into your hands right before bed. The lotion is great for your hands, and the scent will help ease you into sleep.
Soak and de-stress.
Baths soothe my soul. If they do the same for you, then turn them into a ritual. Invest in salts, bath balms, or candles—or all of them. I have a very comfortable bath pillow, and whenever people ask me for gift ideas for me, I tell them I love organic all-natural bath bombs.
Add some VapoShower to your shower.
Maybe you don’t like baths or don’t have a bathtub—that’s OK. Turn your shower into a warm embrace from your childhood by adding a Vicks VapoShower tablet to it. There’s something about that mentholated smell that makes a person feel loved. Not a fan? Then add another kind of aroma therapy tablet to your shower experience.
Give your scalp a lovely massage.
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of having your hair washed at a salon, you know how great it can feel to have your scalp massaged. There’s no reason why you can’t do that for yourself at least once a week while you wash your hair.
Give your hair some love.
Get a new hair color, a new cut, a moisturizing treatment, or all of the above. You’ll love running your fingers through your hair afterward. If you go to a salon, book your next appointment before you leave so that you don’t ever neglect your lovely locks.
Buy yourself a silk pillowcase.
Not only do silk pillowcases feel luxurious, they help protect your hair, especially if you have curly hair. These fabrics can reduce or even eliminate friction so that your hair doesn’t get tangled or damaged while you sleep.
How about a hydrating face mask and the drink of your choice?
You can buy those full face mask sheets that are so readily available nowadays. Since it takes about 15 minutes for them to do their thing, make yourself a drink that you can sip through your favorite reusable straw while you sit back, relax, and listen to music or a podcast.
Gently whiten your teeth.
I have very sensitive teeth and gums, and most teeth-whitening procedures or products leave me in pain, so I gave up on them. But then I found the iSmile home teeth whitening kit and decided to give it a try, and it did not leave me in pain. Did it give me movie star white teeth? No, but it did make my smile brighter, and I will use it again.
Become a hat person!
I always wanted to be a hat person because I love the way they look and I also love that they shade your face from the sun. I thought I couldn’t be a hat person because my head is so big that I could never find hats that fit, but in the last few years I’ve found brands that cater to larger domes like mine, and I am now officially a hat person. How is this a ritual? Every time I’m going to be out in the sun for an extended time, I pick a hat from my now extensive collection to wear, and I feel all kinds of great about it.
Set up a standing nail appointment.
If getting your nails done makes you happy, why not work it into your schedule regularly? Book a standing appointment with your favorite nail technician instead of just going haphazardly whenever you notice your nails need some love. This can become something you look forward to and enjoy.
Have you tried a glass file on your feet?
You could use a pumice stone or metal file to regularly remove dead skin and calluses from your feet, but may I suggest using a glass file instead? I recently got one, and I’m a convert. Now, once a week while I bathe, I use my file to gently remove any buildup on the skin of my feet, and oh, the joy it brings me to have smooth feet that absorb the lotion I lovingly rub into them.
