Self-care has so many definitions. For some, it is shopping or for some, it is reading and travelling. To each their own. But for some, it ends up being a skincare routine. You might have heard of skincare lovers or maybe you’re one of them. In that case, we know what might cheer you and how you can shower yourself with some gentle love and declutter your mind!
How does self-care affect your mood and what are the benefits of self-care?
Many of us have related self-care with a ‘thing’ to do when we’re upset or sad. The simple reason is that it makes us feel so good. It instantly lifts our spirits and helps us look upwards. But instead of looking at it as a distraction from overthinking, it should be a break from routine or a time reserved to thoroughly think about your wellness. Self-care can offer health benefits and puts one in a good mood. Why do we say so? Self-care pushes us to think about our betterment and the good parts. It helps us be grateful and have a closer look at ourselves only to observe that it isn't so bad after all. Activities like working out, yoga, skincare, eating healthy, and reading about growth keep negativity at bay. These activities stimulate the production of certain hormones like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. They’re responsible for making you feel good and reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Having said that, let’s dive into the list of benefits that these hormones via self-care activities will give:
1. An extra pinch of self-love and confidence.2. Heightened awareness about what makes you feel good and what upsets you
3. Reduce physical and emotional pain
4. Ability to form meaningful relations
5. Ability to focus better
Does skincare relate to self-care?
Cent per cent, yes. A lot of our confidence and self-love comes from what we look like. It is not about fitting the social norms but more about if we are beautiful in our view. This is where skincare comes in. It helps you work towards the skin that you desire. We’ve often heard stories of acne-recovering warriors but most of us feel insecure about showing our skin due to wounds or marks or some unusuality. Skincare gives us the power to take charge of our skin and walk towards healthier skin. This is why it gives us happy hormones- just because we’re working towards healthy skin.
What does a self-care Sunday's skin and body care routine look like?
A self-care Sunday focuses more on how delicately and charmingly you take care of yourself. You do it all for yourself from making your bed, taking a spa, cooking a healthy meal for yourself and or going on a stroll with your pet. But when it comes to skincare, we know exactly how you can make the date with yourself a little special. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Oil
Yes, the ritual starts with nourishing your skin. Massage your body and hair with the oil of your choice. This will improve blood circulation in your skin and scalp. Let the oil soak in for 15-20 minutes. When it’s soaked, it will leave behind dead skin which loosens up due to oiling and massaging.
2. Wash your body and hair
On days when you have had long outdoor hours, you can even use a body scrub. Use a body wash of your choice. It’s all about engaging and focusing on your body so you can go ahead and draw yourself a bath with bath salt too. For your hair, wash them with a gentle shampoo and conditioner to avoid irritating the scalp.
Sublime picks Faith In Nature Body Wash. It has Lavender and Geranium in it to refresh your mood.
3. Cleanse your face
Once you’re out of the shower, let the hair be without combing or using a blow dryer. Meanwhile, wash your face using the 60 seconds rule. This is where you go round and round on your face with the face wash and let it do the job for a minute. Pat dry your face to move to the next step.
Sublime picks Put Simply Get Your Greens Cleanser. It is a pH-balancing gel cleanser that does its job without stripping off your skin.
4. Toner or essence
Depending on your skin type and mood, use a toner to add the first layer of hydration to your skin. If you have dry skin then use essence to add another layer of hydration. Toners and essence containing Rosewater, Centella Asiatica, Ginseng, Aloe Vera, etc work well to soothe, hydrate and start repairing the skin.
Sublime picks Sioris My First Essener. It has Green Tea, Rosewater, Hyaluronic Acid, Mugwort Leaf Extract and much more to hydrate and nourish your skin. It can help improve skin elasticity and reduce the size of the pores.
5. Treatment
This is where you ask questions to yourself as to which part of your skin you want to improve. Is it that you have old scars or recent marks or extreme dryness and dullness? If the question is all of the above then Vitamin C can work well for the AM routine. Start with a low concentration of Vitamin C and pat it on your skin. Take a few seconds to pat your face with the serum.
Sublime picks Dear, Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop Serum. It is a 5% Vitamin C serum to brighten your skin.
6. Body butter
While your face is absorbing the goodness of the serum, you can focus on your body. This will allow your skin to absorb the serum better and for you to utilise that resting period well. Ideally, a serum should be given 5 minutes before going with the next layer. Anyway, coming back to nourishing your body, pick a body butter that is lightweight so that it won’t leave you feeling like a greasy bear. To ensure that it is being absorbed, massage your body for 4-5 minutes.
Sublime picks Green And Beige Body Butter. It deeply hydrates and nourishes your skin with Shea butter, Mango butter along with Almond and Safflower oil as the key ingredients.
7. Moisturise your face
By now your face skin is ready to take the next layer. Use a good moisturiser that contains Ceramides, Hyaluronic acid, PCA complexes, etc to provide the skin with a good barrier while actives like Vitamin C work on your skin. Ingredients like Ceramides, PCA complex, etc form a part of your skin and replenishing them means reducing transepidermal water loss. Say hello to healthy and glowy skin with such moisturisers!
Sublime picks Aminu Earnest Cream which acts as a hydrating seal for the skin.
8. Hair mask and serum
Now while your face is being moisturised, pick a hair serum to provide moisture to your strands and reduce frizz. Just a couple of drops on your palm and then pat them on your locks. A hair serum brings back structure to your hair and replenishes the moisture level which might have been depleted after a hair wash. If you have extremely dehydrated strands, then your answer is hair mask. A hair mask goes heavy-duty on your strands to nourish them. To someone with wavy or coily hair, hair mask can define the structure of your hair and even manage frizz. After washing it off, top it with hair serum and you have the perfect recipe to hydrated, silky locks.
Sublime picks Flawsome Kinky Berries Moisturizing & Strengthening Hair Mask. The blend of super berries with Keratin and oils helps to improve hair’s elasticity and nourish them intensely. When it comes to hair serum, you can pick Detoxie Dry & Damage Repair, Sun Block Hair Serum. It works well to tame your frizz without making it oily.
9. SPF
This is the final step of all and if only we could emphasise its importance in words. SPF is a game changer. It protects your love of your skin by absorbing or reflecting UV rays. This is a must for your skin as the last step in your self-care AM routine.
Learn more about how to read a sunscreen label here.
Sublime picks Put Simply Beat The Sun Sunscreen. It has new age filters which give you SPF 50 with PA ++++. Hydrating and lightweight!
Take home points
Self-care therapy forces us to meditate by engaging in activities that make us feel good and grateful for what we have. Just like a skincare routine fits in so well as a self-care act. Not because it helps your skin but rather because it goes beyond to even help your heart. Be it a 10-step regime or a 4-step regime, skincare can be a meditative act for some and that is the reason why we have so many skincare enthusiasts!
- Divya Salvi
