Beauty habits to inculcate to give yourself some TLC

We’ve seen numerous beauty influencers say 'skin care is self-care' like a mantra. However, did you know that there is actual scientific backing to this? According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2019, skincare creates an opportunity for mindfulness which in turn curbs depression, anxiety and overthinking. It elevates your mood almost instantly and keeps your skin healthy and supple. Talk about a win-win! 

Think of skincare as you think of journaling or meditation. It’s an activity that acts as an anchor to your thoughts and the repetitive actions that you can do from muscle memory work to bring a satisfying and soothing feeling. But you don’t have to take our word for it, you can try it out yourself. We’ve listed down a few beauty habits you can inculcate in your skincare routine to give yourself that extra boost of TLC. Remember to be mindful and focus on yourself. 

Exfoliate your face and body 

In an ideal world, we would all be exfoliating our faces and body at least once a week. But, unfortunately, we live in a world of laziness and procrastination, and exfoliation is a once-in-a-while indulgence rather than a fixed step in our routine. However, this shouldn’t be the case for two reasons: First, exfoliating regularly unclogs pores and gets rid of dead skin cells and other pollutants that dull our shine. Second, there is something so satisfying and self-pampering about scrubbing ourselves with a product that feels and smells heavenly, and getting soft, velvet-like skin as a reward.  

DIY face masks  

Growing up, I would watch my grandmother make face masks with ingredients from her kitchen. She would use tomatoes, make a paste of yoghurt and honey, apply aloe vera gel and whatever else she thought would give her skin some love (while keeping signs of ageing at bay). And even though the beauty universe is now flooded with masks that offer a host of benefits from combatting pigmentation and acne to skin tightening and toxin removal, DIY masks are as nourishing on the soul as they are on our skin (PS: No offence to skincare products, we love those too!) 

Get your nails done  

Okay, this one might not be for everyone, and a lot of you’ll might be scrunching your eyebrows wondering how getting your nails done can be considered as a habit. But those of you who feel literal irritation seeing chipped nail polish or worse, no nail polish, will get it. There are very few things as gratifying as getting a manicure and nail art or whatever trend is floating about that week. It’s an instant pick-me-up on days you feel down or blue. 

Face massages
 
There is a reason jade rollers and gua sha stones sell like hotcakes. Apart from its numerous advantages to the skin, facial massages are about going out of your way to give yourself an extra dose of love and pampering. It’s almost like meditating. Focusing on your hand movements and the way the tool feels on your face can be quite soothing and relaxing. It’s a beauty habit worth spending those extra few minutes on. 

Double cleanse, don’t use make-up removal wipes 

Whether you’ve had a terrible day at work or a long night, make-up wipes are never the way to go. Not only do they have a bad reputation for containing harsh skin-irritating ingredients (think—fragrances, chemical preservatives, and many more skin villains), and they also don’t have the satisfaction of taking a cotton pad soaked in a gentle cleanser to your face and watching the day’s pollutants just come off. Then comes your favourite face wash that leaves you feeling fresh and relaxed, and sets the tone for the rest of your routine.