Feeling a bit blah? It might be time to stop, rest and go for some self care. Here are 22 ways to give yourself some beauty TLC.
1. Buff your body
“I keep a traditional Turkish kese [exfoliating mitt] in the shower to give my skin a spa-like sloughing. You can use it alone or with a product like bodywash or soap.” — chemical engineer and beauty researcher Birnur Aral
2. Indulge in a face oil
“When my skin is particularly parched or dull, I pat a face oil all over for a quick hit of hydration that makes my complexion feel replenished and look glowy.”— April Franzino, beauty director at Prevention US
3. Revive sleepy eyes
“I leave undereye patches in the fridge and pull them out right before use. The coolness helps reduce the look of undereye puffiness and feels invigorating.” — Danusia Wnek, cosmetic chemist
4. Add Zen to your space
“I love turning on a fragrance diffuser an hour or so before going to sleep. I’ll use different essential oils, from lavender to rose, to create a calming, serene environment for rest.” — Catharine Malzahn, beauty assistant at Prevention US
5. Coddle cuticles
“Before bed, I spend a minute rubbing a thick cuticle cream onto my nails and wake up with soft, neat cuticles.” — Chiara Butler, cosmetic chemist
6. Pucker up to soft lips
“Spoil often-overlooked lips with a little ‘facial’: Smooth flaky skin by buffing lips with a damp washcloth or a lip scrub, then layer on a thick lip mask for nourishment.” — April Franzino
7. Maximise moisture
“After a shower or bath, I massage a rich cream onto my body to double up on hydration and leave my skin plumped.” — Sabina Wizemann, cosmetic chemist
8. Breathe deeply for relief
“When I’m stressed, I’ll put a few drops of an aromatherapy essential oil into my palms, cup them around my nose and mouth, then inhale and exhale for 10 seconds to decompress.” — April Franzino
9. Elevate your bath
Today’s soaks are much more than warm water and a few bubbles. Take your sudsing experience to the next level with these indulgent bath boosters.
Atmospheric accents
Add ambience to the room before you step in. “I burn a candle with a soothing scent to set the mood,” says Dori Price, contributing beauty editor at Prevention US.
Or tie together a bunch of fresh eucalyptus and hang it from the showerhead to release a calming aroma when steam hits, Wnek suggests.
H2O enhancers
Get more from your soak by adding a bath product to the water for aromatherapy and bonus benefits: Try a bubble bath or a bath bomb for suds, a bath oil or a bath soak for skin softening or bath salts for aches (Wnek recommends Epsom salts).
Skin smoothers
A bath is the perfect time to buff skin silky with a creamy body scrub or a body brush.
“I use a soft to medium bristle dry brush on my body before I get in to exfoliate and promote circulation,” Wizemann says. “Using gentle pressure and moving in circular motions smooths and softens skin.”
Hydration helpers
“When my skin is especially dry or feels sensitive, I apply an oil before and after a bath to help lock in moisture,” Wizemann says. “Sometimes I even drop it into the bath to give my skin that silky feel.”
Luxuriate while you wash
“I scrub my skin with a gentle exfoliating mud while waiting for my conditioner to sink in and then rinse them both off at the same time.” — Birnur Aral
10. Give hair extra care
“Once or twice per month, I give my strands a salon-style deep treatment either with the hair-oiling technique or by applying an overnight hair mask to my damaged ends, then wrapping them in a bun.” — April Franzino
Hair oiling is a traditional Indian Ayurvedic practice in which you “massage warm oil on the entire scalp and strands for better scalp and hair health,” says Nidhi Pandya, an Ayurvedic doctor. If you want deeper hydration than regular conditioner provides, hair oiling may be worth a try.
It can “protect hair from becoming too dry while also providing nourishment,” says integrative dermatologist Dr Raja Sivamani. Look for a hair oil that contains plant-derived Ayurvedic ingredients like amla, bhringraj and brahmi.
Apply a hair oil treatment up to two to three times per week or as needed; leave it on for at least 30 minutes or overnight, then shampoo it out (no conditioner needed). Those with oily hair should “opt for a lighter oil like grapeseed to avoid increased oil buildup,” Dr Sivamani says.
11. De-puff your face
“I keep an ice roller [a jade roller also works] in the freezer and roll it on my skin when it’s feeling swollen to de-puff and make myself feel energised fast.” — Dori Price, contributing beauty editor at Good Housekeeping US
12. Steam your skin
“I have oily skin with large pores, and the warm steam from a facial steamer helps loosen impurities trapped in my pores. My favourite part is that it feels like a pampering spa treatment.” — Danusia Wnek
13. Help dry skin
Remember to nourish fragile hand skin, prone to damage from wear and tear, by stashing hand cream by the sink, in your bag and at your desk.
We recommend:
L’occitane En Provence Shea Butter Hand Cream
Treat rough hands to this indulgent, classic L’Occitane cream with a high 20% concentration of nourishing shea butter. It ranked above the rest at giving even chapped, cracked skin lasting smoothness and softness.
Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream
Get the most from your hand cream with this concentrated Soap & Glory formula, packed with botanical oils (grape-seed, sweet almond, macadamia). A little goes a long way in providing parched skin with serious hydration.
14. Get an instant “facial”
Before a bath or a shower, I apply a face mask to purify or hydrate my skin as I suds up. I’ll use a sheet mask in the bath and a rinse-off formula in the shower.” — Catharine Malzahn
15. Treat feet
“I smooth a foot cream onto the bottoms of my soles when I get into bed for an extra dose of pampering and to have softer heels by morning; body lotion works too. Extra credit: pull on socks to seal in the product.” — Catharine Malzahn
16. Invigorate tired skin
“I stash face mists with essential oils (a favourite: Caudalie Beauty Elixir) at my desk and in my kitchen drawer for when I feel depleted during the day; a few spritzes refresh my skin and senses.” — April Franzino
17. Fall asleep with fragrance
“I mist on a comforting gourmand perfume before bed; the sweetness and warmth create a cocoon of coziness as I drift off.” — Chiara Butler
18. Make your shower a sanctuary
“To unwind immediately, no bath needed, I mist an essential oil spray in my shower to infuse the air with a eucalyptus or lavender scent.” — Danusia Wnek
19. Massage away stress
“Taking time to apply skincare to your décolletage, shoulders and arms can be an indulgence. The simple action of gently rubbing on a lotion is so calming.” — Chiara Butler
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