As much as mindfulness relaxes the mind and body, incorporating it into your daily lives is not all that easy.
A busy life can hardly spare any time for practicing mindfulness. But here’s the sauce – you can incorporate mindfulness into the activities you already do during the day. After all, it is important to slow down to be aware of the world around you.
Most of us have beauty routines that we follow religiously every single day, but we often do it without being fully present at the moment due to the habit.
Written by: Mariyam
For example, you apply moisturizer while looking at the phone or thinking about the embarrassing moments of life. You brush your teeth planning the day ahead or sometimes while being half-asleep, and remember coming back home and rushing off removing the makeup to go to bed? We are guilty of doing all of that on autopilot.
When you apply mindfulness to your beauty routine, you will definitely feel a change within. Let’s take an in-depth look at how you can incorporate this life-changing practice for a beautiful you.
Be mindful of what you feed to your skin
One of the first steps you need to follow is to know what products you use on your skin. This includes understanding the brand, the proper usage, and how the product benefits your skin.
But your awareness shouldn’t be restricted to those details only. You should also read the details on the labels to know the ingredients used in the product. Search online about what ingredients don’t suit your skin or the ones you might be allergic to. Notice if the brand you are using is ethical and cruelty-free or non-toxic and organic.
Among countless beauty products in the market, you will come across those that feel similar. Unless you are a beauty enthusiast or a professional, it’s hard to tell them apart, but mindful skincare involves knowing them all before using.
The same also applies to your dental routine says this dentist in Williamsburg VA. Be careful of the products that you use on your teeth. It’s best to consult a dentist first before adding a new product to your routine.
Slow down and check in with your skin
A hectic lifestyle calls for a hectic schedule, and often rushing through tasks. You apply products, go to the salon, and wear expensive makeup, but hardly notice if your skin accepts the products until it goes too dry or gets irritated. With the change of the weather, different days demand different skincare products.
Some days you might need to drink more water, or you might need a face massage. This works best when you pay attention to what your body wants and be all there.
Take time to look at your skin, and notice any changes. Instead of shoveling outside information into your brain, listen to what your skin is trying to tell you. Just like stress can result in hair fall, your skin changes its texture or appearance due to poor mental health. Also, make appointments with your dermatologist from time to time.
Enjoy the process
Yes, products are indeed supposed to work on your skin to give desired results. However, slowing down and staying conscious of every movement you make while applying them will let you fully live the present.
Think of applying your skincare products more like an act of passion and love than just a habit or to-do on daily lists before leaving home. This approach will perhaps work best with cleansers and toners. Not only will you be practicing mindfulness, but you will also increase the product’s efficacy on your skin. Also, ensure you give time to your skin to absorb products while layering.
While with creams, oils, or perfumes, pay attention to the texture or the spray’s feel on your skin. Especially with perfumes, try to inhale and identify different notes throughout the day.
Practice box breathing
Box breathing is a meditation breathing technique where you take slow and deep breaths. From athletes to nurses, everyone uses it to relieve stress. Sometimes, if you pay attention, you find yourself inhaling and exhaling in a rhythm while walking, running, or listening to music.
Here’s how you can practice box breathing:
- Slowly exhale.
- Inhale to the count of four while filling the air to your lungs.
- Hold your breath for a count of four.
- Finally, exhale through the mouth for another count of four while feeling the air leaving your lungs.
You can do box breathing anywhere – you just have to find a comfortable place to sit in an upright position. This technique helps declutter your mind and relax your body. This way, you become happier and stress-free every day. After all, a happy face is a beautiful face.
Masking meditation ritual
Face masking doesn’t have to be boring or lengthy. Who could think that a weekly masking session can achieve great success in relieving your stress and chaos?
Take out 10-15 minutes from your hectic schedule and devote it to a masking session. While you focus and feel comfortable throughout the session, the mask will work wonders on your skin. You can also take help from guided meditation apps to amplify the benefits. Mindful beauty is all about becoming attractive while enjoying the process.
As a beginner, you will find it hard to practice mindfulness at first, but if you face an issue or think it’s not working, you can set the mood for some essential oils. You need to practice mindfulness regularly to get successful results.
The beauty of mindfulness is you can practice it anywhere – without quieting your mind or doing something special. After all, it’s not the final destination but the journey that matters.
Incorporating mindfulness is one of the smartest techniques to change lifestyle for the better because you improve your mental health and pamper skin to look beautiful every day.
Author bio
Mariyam is a beauty blogger at The Beautyholic, where she writes on skincare, makeup and wellness. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing with her kitty, Rumi and going for nature walks.