Is it too late to ask for a refund on 2020? We don’t know about you, but the past couple of months have had us feeling all the things. Stress, anxiety, uncertainty - you name it.
And while we’re all for staying in your PJ’s and binge-watching Netflix to deal with it (we see you Tiger King), this is the perfect opportunity to practice some self-care and have yourself a little iso glow-up. We’re talking face masks, bubble baths, yoga - you do you, boo. With everything that’s going on, a self care routine is the key to looking after yourself.
Get ready to feel zen with our self-care tips and learn how to create the perfect self care routine.
Overview:
- What is self care & why is it important
- What does a self care routine look like?
- How to create the perfect self care routine
What is self care & why is it important?
In a nutshell, self-care is any activity that you do in order to take care of your mental, emotional and physical health. It should refuel and energise you, rather than deplete you.
Think of it this way - if your car has an empty tank, it ain’t going anywhere - the same applies to you. Without taking time to look after yourself, you’ll slowly but surely burn yourself out. And with everything that’s going on at the moment, creating a self care routine is more important than ever.
Also, we need you to repeat after us: self-care isn’t selfish. Self-care is how you become a better person, which in turn, makes you treat other people better. So, what can self-care do? Among other things, it can:
- Reduce stress
- Increase your energy
- Improve your mental well being
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce irritability
What does a self care routine look like?
Self-care isn’t like those jeans in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - it’s not a one size fits all deal. Just take a page out of Jonathan Van Ness’s book, the ultimate self care guru.
A self care routine can take many forms, but for us, it’s treating yourself like the queen you are. Think: taking time to fine-tune your skincare routine, hydrating your hair with fabulous hair masks or saying goodbye to pimples with a clay mask. It can also include doing things like yoga, exercising, cooking yourself a healthy meal, decluttering your wardrobe and so on.
So to take advantage of all the time you’re now spending at home (we’re proud of you for self-isolating by the way), we’ve picked out a few of our fav skin and hair care products to get you started on your iso glow-up.
A self care routine that lets you do you
Hair Masks
We don’t know about you, but we’re coming out of this self-isolation with hydrated, gorgeous hair. How, you ask? Two words: hair masks.
Hair masks are basically conditioners that have been given a facelift. They’re designed to give your hair a major hydration boost, as well as restore damaged hair and leave your strands feeling silky smooth. While we’re a sucker for all our hair masks, there are two that we turn to every time.
Georgiemane 10 Minute Hair Mask
We’ve dedicated an entire blog to this hydrating hair mask before, but we just can’t stop talking about it. It’s not only free from sulfates, silicones and parabens, but it’s 100% vegan and perfect for all hair types.
It is specifically formulated to repair your hair, and also work to prevent any future damage. With coconut, grape seed and Abyssinica oil, it’s no surprise this hair mask is packed full of natural goodness.
Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask
Ahh, another hair mask we keep fangirling over. This one is pumped full of reparative proteins that help to reconstruct your hair from within. The ingredient line up is full of nourishing ingredients like argan oil and shea butter, and it works to improve your hair’s strength and elasticity.
Face Masks
If you’re lucky enough to work from home at the moment, you would have said goodbye to your daily commute. Which means you’ve got way more time for face masks (this writer is even wearing one right now). And if you still have to go into work, a face mask is the perfect way to unwind and practise some self-care at the end of the day. Our top pick? Minenssey of course.
Blackheads? Breakouts? Dry skin? This range of clay masks has gotchu.
If you’re struggling with congested skin at the moment, we recommend this one. It's got green clay, antioxidant-rich pepper berry and parsley seed to help stop your skin freaking out.
Skin feeling a little dry? Turn to this super hydrating face mask which has flannel flower, rosella fruit and Australian white clay. It’s our favourite all-rounder mask.
Say goodbye to hyperpigmentation and age spots with this kakadu plum enriched mask. It’s packed full of vitamin C and Australian pink clay too!
Got uneven, tired or dull skin? This clay mask is your new best friend. It’s ideal for all skin types and will leave you with a radiant, light-reflecting glow.
Inner beauty
Okay, so as much as we love a face mask moment, a self care routine is also about doing things that make you feel good. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Go for a long beach walk
- Practice mindfulness (this is something you can actually do while on that beach walk 👆. Feel the sand in your toes, the breeze on your skin and listen to the crashing of the waves)
- Try yoga
- Make a super healthy green smoothie
- Read a book
- Bake
- Meditate (we promise just 5 minutes a day can make a major difference)
- Draw mandalas (you’ll get totally in the zone)
- Do a DIY project (we hear gardening is very in right now)
- Declutter your wardrobe, bathroom or car
- Paint
- Listen to podcasts
- Take a break from social media
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At the end of the day, a self care routine is all about doing what makes you feel calm, refreshed and energised. We hope our self-care ideas have inspired you to do your own iso glow-up (whether that’s a physical or inner glow-up). If you’re looking for even more ways to pamper yourself, give our hair and skincare a lil’ cheeky browse.
