When I think of self-care, I think of total relaxation of the mind and the body. Different people practice self-care differently, whether it be going to the gym, having a shopping spree, or simply just taking a nap. Over the years my idea of how I take care of myself has changed drastically as I have grown and figured out what makes me feel my best.
Having a morning and night skincare routine
Taking care of my skin is very important and I have done a lot of research to find out what products are most beneficial. I have found many benefits in using a Vitamin C oil or serum in the morning before putting on SPF. It keeps my skin glowy and fresh, and combined with my sunscreen allows for good protection from the UV index. At night, I use a retinol serum, which helps depuff and smooth fine lines. Retinol is one product known for preventing wrinkles, so if you want to get mistaken for a teenager in your thirties, I would recommend adding this to your skincare routine. I also use the Luna Sleeping Night Oil from Sunday Riley which helps lock in all my skin’s moisture so it looks radiant the next morning when I wake up.
Having a Spa night
I have never been to a spa, but I try to emulate the experience with what I have in my room. One of my favorite things to do is use a hydrating sheet mask on my face. I put them in the fridge most times and when I put them on my face they are nice and icy cold, which helps to depuff and tone down redness. On some occasions, I will dermaplane all of the peach fuzz off of my face with a mini razor, which in addition to getting rid of that lady mustache, will make your makeup look ten times better due to your new smoother complexion. I like to use facial massagers to help with drainage and reduce the tension in the muscles in my face. Plus it will snatch your jawline!
Taking an Everything Shower
This is hands down one thing that you can do that will always make you feel your best. Give yourself a nice hair wash and one of my favorites, a hair mask. I always feel so rejuvenated after I use a hair mask because my hair just feels so much healthier. During the time the hair mask is in my hair I will shave every inch of my body! I use all of my fancy scrubs, shave oils, and creams to exfoliate and make my skin silky smooth. Once everything is washed, shaved, and exfoliated, I finally drench myself in some type of lavender-scented lotion to calm me down, and I climb into bed awaiting one of the best feelings in the world: freshly shaved and moisturized legs under cold and silky sheets. There is nothing better!
Organizing
One thing I have started to do, particularly this year, is organize my crazy life! Whether it be using an online calendar, a portable planner, or even just jotting down things I need to do on a sticky note, it helps to calm my brain. I love using Google Calendar to be able to schedule my day with appointments, meetings, and especially as a student, keeping all my due dates in one place. I found that adding a notes shortcut on the desktop of my laptop is a really helpful way to always be able to see my assignments. I write them down in a bulleted list and add their due dates next to them to make sure I give myself time to complete them. Once I finish them I can check them off, which is definitely one of the most satisfying things in the whole world. Making these little lists helps me feel more productive, and in turn, makes me excited to do my work so I can check the task off!
Taking care of yourself is so important, and whether you do any of these things or have a routine of your own, I strongly encourage that you regularly take time for yourself to decompress. So next time you are feeling stressed, go take a nice everything shower and have yourself a little spa night, you will not be disappointed!