You don’t need a sixteen-jet jacuzzi or a window-sill stacked with candles to have a spa-worthy bath moment. But bathing doesn’t have to just be a chore, either.
There’s a happy (and simple) medium to a good self-care bathing session. It’s a form of self-care, a way to relax your mind and pamper your skin. By creating a spa-like atmosphere and routine in your bathroom, you can turn any bathing experience into a more mindful and therapeutic one.
We’ll show you how bathing can support mindfulness and therefore skincare on two fronts: stress relief and product implementation.
How bathing can relieve stress and improve your mood
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: Stress is public enemy #1 of your skin and overall health. It can cause inflammation, breakouts, premature aging, and other issues. It can also affect your mood, sleep quality, immunity, and mental well-being, which in turn (you guessed it) affects your appearance. Cue the dark circles.
Bathing in a mindful way can help you reduce stress and improve your mood by stimulating the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones that make you happy. It can also lower your cortisol levels, the stress hormones that make you anxious. As a bonus, bathing can soothe your muscles, ease your tension, and promote blood circulation – all good things for the positive cycle of skin health.
Now how do you get the spa feeling when you don’t have hours to prep your bathroom to look like a Costa Rican all-inclusive resort? Sometimes, it just takes a couple of props you have lying around the house or even just a mindset shift for a few minutes:
Set the mood with some candles, aromatherapy, or music. Choose scents and sounds that calm you down and make you feel comfortable. Or, pull out the votives you break out for the holidays - set them in an old jar and enjoy the ambiance – flame is flame no matter how expensive the candle burning.
Adjust the water temperature to your preference. Generally, warm water is more relaxing than cold water, but not too hot as it can dry out your skin.
Add some bath salts, oils, or bubbles to your water. These products can moisturize your skin, detoxify your body, and enhance your sensory experience.
Put on a meditation or break out your favorite book. Sometimes the best distraction from life’s distractions is another more relaxing one.
Use a soft towel or robe to dry yourself off. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing your skin too hard as it can irritate it.
Treat yourself to a massage or a facial after your bath. You can use a massager, a roller, or your own hands to gently massage your face and body. You can also apply a mask, a serum, or a moisturizer to nourish your skin.
How bathing can improve your product implementation and skin-care results
Bathing is not only a way to relax your mind but also a way to prepare your skin for better product absorption and effectiveness. By cleansing your skin thoroughly and opening up your pores with warm water and steam, you can remove dirt, oil, makeup, and dead skin cells that can clog your pores and prevent your products from penetrating deeper into your skin layers.
To make the most out of your bathing experience and improve the effects of your products and therefore results, try some of these tips:
Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser that suits your skin type and concern. You can use a washcloth, a sponge, or a brush to gently exfoliate your skin and remove any impurities.
Apply a toner to balance your skin’s pH level and hydrate it. You can use a cotton pad or spray bottle to apply the toner evenly on your face and neck.
Apply a serum to target specific skin issues or goals. Choose a serum that contains active ingredients that match your skin concern, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide, or peptides. You can use your fingertips or a dropper to apply a few drops of the serum on your face and neck, and gently pat it into your skin.
Apply a moisturizer to lock in the moisture and protect your skin barrier. Choose a moisturizer that suits your skin type and concern, such as cream, lotion, gel, or oil. You can use your fingertips or a spatula to apply the moisturizer on your face and neck, and gently massage it into your skin.
Apply an eye cream to nourish the delicate skin around your eyes. Choose an eye cream that addresses specific eye issues or goals, such as dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, or sagging. You can use your ring finger or an applicator to apply the eye cream on the orbital bone around your eyes, and gently tap it into your skin.
Bathing can be more than just a daily chore. It’s self-care at its finest, but creating the ambiance shouldn’t be a stressor – a warm bath and time for yourself is more than enough.
Baths can support mindfulness and therefore skincare on two fronts when you focus on stress relief and using products correctly. The atmosphere and aesthetic are just bonuses, and the most important thing is to enjoy yourself and find what works best for you.
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