10 Ways to Practice Mindful Skincare
10 Ways to Practice Mindful Skincare / 10 Steps That Can Help You Practice Mindfulness in Skincare
Mindfulness in the dictionary is described as focusing one's awareness on the present moment, especially as part of a therapeutic or meditative technique. In a simplistic sense it means being present and fully aware of yourself and your surroundings, in that very moment.
In this world where every single being is diverse, mindfulness can mean different things to different people. When we look at this through the skin care lens it can often be:
- Skincare that is natural or plant based
- Skincare that is cruelty free and vegan
- Skincare that is packaged in eco-friendly or reusable materials, such as glass rather than plastics.
- Taking the time to enjoy a ritualistic skincare routine, rather than rushing through the process.
- Understanding how certain elements can affect your skin – from the foods you eat to your hormones and for women, the menstrual cycle.
Whether you connect with all of the above or even a few of them, remember mindfulness in skincare is not just about your skincare routine but also instilling additional tools that will lead the path to beautiful skin and while you practice all this, remember to be present.
1. Intentions
Before you begin your skincare routine, acknowledge your feelings. If you feel frustration, set an intention of focusing on gratitude and kindness. If you’re unhappy with the way you look, set an intention of self-love, acceptance and confidence. You have the power within you to change how you feel, and by focusing on these intentions you set at the beginning, you decide how the next few minutes are going to make you feel.
2. Slow It Down
Spiritual teacher and self-help author Eckhart Tolle says, “In today's rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy of just Being.”
What this means for skincare is that we need to take our time with each step. For instance, most of us take about 15 –20 seconds to wash our face. Instead, cleanse your face for 60 seconds, let the product do its work. It will help soften your skin, dissolve sebum blockages and heal skin tone overtime. Skincare is a sensorial experience. “You’re touching your skin, you’re smelling the products, you’re observing what they look like—you’re checking all the boxes,” says dermatologist Debbie Palmer, M.D., author of Mindful Beauty: Holistic Habits to Feel and Look Your Best, who’s been practicing mindfulness for years.
We need to step aside and think, why we are habitual with our fast-paced lifestyle doing things in a rush often leaving us disconnected and the way we can remedy this, is by slowing down.
3. Take Notice of Products and How They Affect Your Skin
When we are present, we notice first-hand how each product reacts to our skin over the course of time. Make notes of what works for you, what needs to be changed or what requires to be added to your routine.
In order for you to understand how this may benefit you, here’s a small glimpse of how being mindful with your routine can help you. One of our patrons observed that after using our facial cleanser Purging Purity, their skin felt a bit dry. We then suggested that they use an oil cleansing method which would involve gently massaging a preferred oil (depending on your skin type) into your skin for a minute followed by a damp, warm washcloth to gently wipe away the oil. Inculcating this step into her routine worked for her.
Small details that we may miss on a daily basis because we are in a hurry, may lead to us experimenting with numerous products to find the right one. Instead, when we take notice, it may need just an effortless adjustment to fix it.
4. Do This Without Judgment
There’s no “you’re doing it wrong” in mindful skincare. Whatever your process, it works for you. You can still be an “skinimalist”. Having a 10-step regime isn't a prerequisite to practice mindful skincare - a few basic steps will suffice. If a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen is all you really need in the morning, embrace your routine.
5. Progress not Perfection
Focusing on “getting perfect skin” or “flawless skin” shouldn’t be our desire. Yes, we all strive towards it, but in order to get there, we need to be present on that journey. Continually looking at how slow the progress is or comparing it to someone else's journey and how long it’s taking you, defeats the purpose of mindful skincare.
We are here, in the now, and our skin is healing, breaking down and rebuilding because of the attention we bestow upon it, and the joy we feel in that moment, is progress.
6. What We Eat
One of the biggest motivations to ‘eat clean’ is the desire to have better-looking skin. Eating nutritious food is important; it’s not what you eat, but rather be mindful of what you absorb. When it comes to both skin and overall health gut health, food with skin-supporting nutrients is ideal.
7. Exercise Consciously
Whether you like to walk, jog or lift weights, all of these activities can be meditative in nature. Be present while you take your time with it. You may have noticed how fresh your skin looks after a run or the post- workout glow, that can be attained while being present as you focus your awareness in these activities.
8. Meditation & Stress Management
A research from the University of Sheffield that combines past studies found techniques like meditation, relaxation sessions and cognitive behavior therapy have real benefit for people suffering from skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, acne and vitiligo (a pigment disorder). Whether chronic or not, skin issues worsen with stress.
All you need is to devote 10 minutes in your day to practice meditation. It can be guided or just being present with your thoughts in a quiet place. Meditating for just a few minutes every day brings energy (also known as prana) into your body and creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. During meditation, prana helps repair your body's tissues and cells which give your skin a fresh, youthful glow. It improves your complexion, reduces wrinkles and slows down the aging process from the inside out.
Meditation also lowers blood pressure and tension-related pain such as headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle aches and joint problems, making you look and feel younger. Reduced stress equals better skin.
9. Stop Multitasking
We want to do it all and finish every task we have all at once. Moving from one task to another barely finishing any, leaves us flustered by the end. According to the Center for Resilience, when we begin and complete each task, that on its own is a big part of mindfulness, for the simple reason that you’re giving your complete focus to one thing. Maintaining focus reduces stress.
10. Reminds Us We are Worth Whe Care
The idea that you are worth the care, that in itself is a joyful feeling. When you rely on yourself and have the opportunity to restore yourself, we get back to the root of who we are. That’s why a lot of experts emphasize that skincare routine be done before bed and before we leave the house to greet the day; it helps us to be calm and grounded in ourselves.
What mindfulness ultimately aims to do is, help us greet the next day more confidently when we are rooted firmly in ourselves.
If you don’t know how to start, try this mindfulness skincare routine:
After cleansing with Purging Purity for 60 seconds, dab Rose Panasea skin toner onto your forehead and both cheeks.
Using both hands, massage the product into your skin as you inhale and exhale deeply. Follow this with Facial Felicity Moisturizer, massaging it upwards with the base of your fingers.
Finally, apply SunShield Sunscreen. Make sure you take your time massaging the luxurious formula deep into your skin for ultimate relaxation and a healthy glow.