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In some cultures, skincare stems from ancient cultural rituals and traditions that are about overall wellness, connecting with the natural world, and healing, as opposed to being about making oneself more beautiful. Some skincare traditions have even stemmed from spiritual rituals, like Ayurveda.
Some even believe that a daily skincare routine can be a gateway to mindfulness, which studies have shown can have numerous health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety. So if you’ve been looking for a good reason to start developing better skincare habits, this is it.
Below, we’ll dig deeper into the mindfulness of skincare as well as offer tips for ways you can use your skincare regimen to boost your physical and mental health.
Mindfulness is a practice that centers around being more aware of what’s happening around you, what you’re doing, and how you are connected to a space and moving through it. While this might not seem like it has any connection at all to a skincare routine, it can.
One way people practice mindfulness is by developing routines or habits that help them stop, slow down, and be more present in the moment — and a skincare routine can be one of the ways people do this. It’s a dedicated time of day that allows you to calm your mind and check in with yourself and how you’re feeling.
As such, a skincare routine can be very importantto some people and make a significant difference in their day. For example, when the world seems to be rushing by and everything is moving fast, a skincare routine can act as an anchor that forces you to slow down and perform a repetitive task that can be almost meditative.
It’s also a time when you can check in with your thoughts, and work on developing more positive affirmations. As you watch yourself in the mirror while doing your skincare, for example, you can give yourself a little pep talk and acknowledge your worth.
Rituals like this help you reflect and cultivate mindfulness. There are, of course, many other ways to be more mindful, but a skincare routine is a great option because it helps heal your mind and your body.
Your mental health can have a profound impact on your skin, but your skincare routine can also have an impact on your mental health. For example, if you are experiencing increased stress, you might find that your skin is breaking out more than usual. But if you take the time to develop a meditative skincare ritual, this can help you reduce your stress and anxiety. So the two sort of go hand in hand.
Your skincare routine can also have an impact on your physical health, as practicing a mindful skincare routine can help you make other healthier choices throughout your day. Below are a few skincare routine tips that can help you cultivate mindfulness to reap the physical and mental health benefits.
Many people tend to rush through their skincare to simply get it over with like any other daily hygiene routine, like brushing your teeth. However, the key to making it more of a ritual that can help you be more present in the moment is to slow down. Make every part of your skincare routine something you do with intention, from the products you choose, to how you apply them to your skin, and what you focus on and think about while doing so.
While going through your routine, practice taking deep breaths to calm your mind and try to connect more with your body and how you are feeling. This can help you better identify things that are perhaps bothering you and offer you the opportunity to address them.
For example, maybe you have had a headache all day or maybe you’ve felt anxious and jittery. As you go through your skincare routine, you can think about why you are feeling these things and what might have caused them, which can enable you to make changes so it doesn’t happen again the next day.
Your senses and your sensory experiences can play a role in your mental health. For example, excessive noise, bright lights, uncomfortable clothing, and unpleasant smells can all contribute to anxiety. Thus, using your skincare routine as a more enjoyable sensory experience can have a more positive impact on your mental health and help reduce stress and anxiety.
You can start by putting on something soft and comfortable to set the tone for your skincare ritual and help you relax. If the lights are bothering you, you can dim them and even light some candles to create a relaxing environment. Using mood-boosting essential oils as part of your routine can also help, like putting lavender in your body moisturizer and putting tea tree in your facial serums.
Eating certain foods can also be a part of your skincare routine, which can help you be more mindful about what you’re putting in your body, not just on your body. After all, outer beauty starts with inner health. Key foods that are filled with nutrients and help improve your skin include chia seeds, ginger, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and oats. You can eat these foods throughout the day or try putting a few of them in a smoothie together.
Caring about your skin doesn’t have to be some shallow thing that’s only about beauty. Having a daily skincare routine can act as a meditative ritual that helps you unwind, clear your mind, and connect more with how you are feeling. It can also help you be more mindful during your routine and throughout the rest of your day, so you can start developing healthier habits and healthier thoughts as a whole.
Author by: Luke Smith
