Roundup: Everything You Need to Begin a Self-Care Ritual
Keeping up with self-care is tough. Between work, caring for children, running errands, cooking meals, cleaning, working out, playing chauffeur, and the other hundreds of things you have to do throughout the day, carving out time to pamper yourself might be hard to justify. So if you’ve suddenly stumbled upon more free time (or, you just temporarily eliminated your commute), it might be the best time to commit to a solid self-care routine. Here are our best tips.
Turn your bathroom into a spa oasis
Set the mood. If you’ve ever indulged in a spa day, then you know the therapeutic effects of a luxurious, relaxing environment. Light a candle, choose the fluffiest towel and pull out the bathtub caddy. Trust us on this.
Invest in clean beauty
Remember, expensive doesn’t always mean quality, especially when it comes to clean, natural, and organic products. And when you do feel the urge to splurge, make sure you’ve done your research. Here’s what we found.
Use a mask
Masks are one of those rare things that almost instantly improve your skin’s appearance, and it’s a must when planning out a self-care ritual. Use them whenever your skin needs a pick me up or when you’re feeling a little extra TLC. PS. These are our favorites.
Get this exact sponge (it’s only $10 from Amazon)
Who knew the secret to glowy smooth skin lies in a ten-dollar Amazon delivery? Made from the konnyaku root, the Konjac Sponge was created to wash babies’ delicate skin, but it turns out it’s a natural cleanser and exfoliator for the face. Use it daily and see the results.
Don’t forget the lips
When it comes to hydrating masks and exfoliation, most people think about their face and body, but self-care is all about the details. A good lip care routine will take you to the next level and leave your pout feeling the softest it’s ever felt. Trust us. Your lippies need it.
Get rolling
Jade rollers are all the rage these days, and it’s for good reason. They’ve been used for hundreds of years in Chinese Medicine as a way to “draw out negative chi,” but today, it’s mostly known for its promises of tighter, brighter, and healthier skin. After a long day, few things feel better than the cool stone on your skin, and the effects are undeniable. Here’s how to do it.
Rely on ancient secrets
Once an intense massage technique used in Chinese medicine to treat fevers and colds, gua sha is now used as a gentle, daily facial that uses cooling rose quartz or jade stone. The purpose is to move stagnant energy, stimulate lymphatic drainage of the face, and increase blood flow, resulting in a revitalized and firmer appearance. Here’s what you should know.
And if you really want to splurge, invest in tech
Once only available for top professional aestheticians and dermatologists, beautifying tech is now available for at-home use. A microcurrent, for instance, is a device that emits extremely low-intensity electrical currents that stimulate the skin and facial muscles to lift instantly, tone, and reactivate your skin. Now, if the idea of shocking your face freaks you out, try a (slightly) less intimidating LED face mask. This mask emits different LED lights to yield specific results. For example, the purifying setting emits blue LED light to kill bacteria and combat acne, and the anti-aging mode emits a firming red LED light.
We want to know what your ritual looks like, whether you’re brand new to the self-care game, or have had a 12 step beauty routine since college. Tag @maed to share your tips and for a chance to be featured.