Mindfulness can be found in all things as long as what you’re doing benefits the soul. Simple things, like washing your face or applying skin cream, can allow you to slow down your breath and connect with your surroundings, as well as boost your confidence and your overall health.
How to Start a Skincare Routine Built on Mindfulness
Slotting in practices like meditation, journaling, and a bath can be tricky in our busy lives, but adding mindfulness to your skincare routine can make both routines more approachable.
Only Take What You Can Handle
There are so many things in life we take on when we don’t mean to. From other people’s expectations of us to our own insecurities, we already have enough on our plates. If you feel a 13-step skincare routine is too much, don’t feel pressured to include it in your daily routine.
All you’ll need to start is a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF of 30 or higher (yes, even in the winter) to get started. If you want to limit the number of products you use further, you can check the all-in-one acne treatments available from a dermatologist or use a foundation with SPF.
Set an Intention/Make it Spiritual
Mindfulness is all about living in the moment, but we can always make our present moment more positive by addressing the negative. It sounds counterintuitive, but if you know how you’re feeling in the moment, you can work to fulfill your newer, happier, or calmer intention.
Feel free to track your intentions in a journal, but if you’re comfortable going the extra mile, you can add some spirituality to your practice. Filling your space with candles, crystals, or incense can make the moment feel special and self-critical, which you’ll need for mindfulness.
Slow Your Routine Right Down
Rushing through your routine like it’s a race isn’t great for your mind or your skin. While washing your face and applying your morning moisturizer, try to let your worries, to-do list, or work commitments slip away. Take the time to be wholly aware of your present situation.
As you move on from step to step, pay attention to the product’s packaging, the way it smells, and the way it feels on your skin. Message the product into your skin slowly using your two index fingers. Close your eyes if you want to; just make sure you get your entire face.
Listen Only to Your Breath
Practicing how to use your breath to calm your body is the single best thing you can do for mindfulness. When starting your routine, you may find that your mind is drifting away from the moment. Focusing on your breath can help you pull you back to the now and the current.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to hold your breath, but being aware of it (by counting down or saying “in, out”) will hold you where you are.
Remember to breathe in through your nose and out through your nose, not mouth, because you need to remain still to apply your products.
Masks and Baths (If Possible)
You won’t always find the time to put on a face mask and relax in the bath, but if you can carve out 30 minutes a week, it’s worth it. Baths are very relaxing and offer the perfect excuse to pamper yourself with Epsom salts, coconut oils, bath bombs, and other skin-softening products.
A green or red clay mask every now and then can help exfoliate your skin and reduce acne scars. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re spending a day at the spa. While applying your mask or soaking in the tub, close your eyes, focus on your breaths, and meditate.
