3 ways to bring more self-care into your skincare

It's easy for us to make the connection between skincare and self-care. With all the bath bombs and body scrubs available, associating those things with self-care is the commercial thing to do.

I want to challenge the thinking on that. If skincare is a form of self-care, why do we rush through the process in the mornings, or worse, skip it all together at night?

Skincare as it relates to self-care is about more than looking good. It's about being intentional with your routine and fully present with each task. Here's how to add the self-care elements to your everyday skincare routine. It's not just for Sundays :)

1. Slow down. Don't let your skincare routine be something you do just before you walk out the door. Take your time. There should be 4 steps in your skincare routine every night and day, and you should take your time with each of them. As you cleanse, tone, exfoliate, and moisturize, really connect with each step in your routine and what it's meant to do for your skin. Do each step thoroughly (not roughly!) and intentionally every morning and night.
2. Give thanks. In our rush to get out the door (or whatever the next thing is in the day), we miss what a blessing it is to be in our bodies. Life and ability are so underrated. As you move through your routine, give thanks for each part of you that you touch. You don't have to say it aloud, but really connect with gratitude for being present and able another day. It's a great way to start and end each day.
3. Use high-quality products. Seriously. As we give thanks for the blessing that is our bodies, and take time to be intentional with each step of our routine, why waste all that energy with sub-par products? Be intentional with the ingredients in the products you use. If you can't pronounce it, why should you put it on your skin everyday? Simpler is always better if you ask me. Don't be afraid to break away from prioritizing price over quality. This is your skin we're talking about here. Any brand that's willing to offer you skincare at a low price probably isn't prioritizing ingredients that are best for your skin. We live in a society where you have to dig a little deeper and sometimes invest a little more to access simple, whole ingredients, but that's a different discussion!

Now, think about how adding these small things to your day can impact your mood over time. Taking a few moments every day to give yourself extra love can be the difference between having an intentionally good day and leaving that up to chance. Having glowing, radiant skin is the added bonus for connecting with your routine in an intentional way.

Try it out and let me know what you think!