Meditation is usually restricted to several activities only: mindfulness meditation, walking meditation to mantra meditation. However, on a stressful day even skincare can be an act of meditation. You can incorporate meditative techniques to take care of yourself and become more mindful at the same time.
Here are the steps to which you can become more mindful when applying skincare:
Set Your Intention
Before starting your skincare routine, the first step is to make your what your intention is. Think first and foremost about what you intent to get out of this routine. If you’re stressed out, then your intention is to feel calmer. If you are unhappy about how you look in the mirror, then you might want to focus on acceptance and kindness. Decide how you want your routine to make you feel, and keep this intention in mind as you start to apply your products.
Another thing you can do to keep track of your emotion is to keep a skin journal. That way, you can keep track of your skin, how you feel as well as your thoughts about your appearance. Journaling is also a really powerful practice for daily intention setting.
Slow it Down
Slowing down is going to be a challenge for some of us, as we strive to do everything quickly these days. But slowing down while doing your skincare routine will serve you well. When applying your skincare and makeup, do your best to prevent your mind from slipping unconsciously to your to-do list of the day. Instead, try to be present for each step. Treat each product like it’s the very first time you’re using it. Notice how it smells, pay attention to the packaging, the consistency, how it feels on your skin. Take it all in.
The moment your mind starts to wander from the task at hand, you can find an anchor to keep you in the moment. When a thought comes in, switch it out to either repeating an affirmation based on your intention, such as “I am safe, and I am well,” or focus on your breath.
Cleanse and Release
After setting your intentions and reminding yourself to slow down, itโs go time! Begin by washing your face, taking a deep breath in, letting the scent of the cleanser soothe and calm you. At the same time, you can envision yourself washing away what you no longer need. You can say or write the statement down. For example, “I Release ______,” such as I Release Worry, I Release Anger, I Release Negativity, etc.
Next, grab your bottle of serum to reduce inflammation and promote cell regeneration. Put several drops on your hand and begin patting the product on your skin. During this process, ask yourself, “What do I know about myself to be true right now?” Let the answer come up intuitively. For example, “I Am ________.”
Massage and Meditate
If a serum is not enough and you will be needing face oil, then this is the perfect opportunity to meditate and massage your skin. As you apply your face oil (again, you can do this outside of the bathroom if you have more time), pay attention to your skin as you massage it in.
Pour a few drops of oil into the palm of your hand, feel its texture, temperature, and weight and breathe in the scent. Close your eyes and pat the oil in. As you massage the oil into your skin, you can spend some time in gratitude, thanking your skin for protecting you, for being the largest organ in your body, for being a barrier, repairing and regenerating itself and allowing you to touch and feel the beautiful things around you. Nailing the mind-skin benefits with a blend of oils that serve as both mood boosters and skin saviors.
Hydrate and Moisturize
The final step in your skincare routine will be to hydrate your skin using a moisturizer. Choose your favorite moisturizer, put some on your fingers and spread it onto your skin. Seal the practice with inner light. While taking a deep breath, envision bright light filling you up. Practice by exhaling deep gratitude and love into the world. For instance, remember to practice breathing in and out, along with the feeling of love. Love in, Love out. Breath in. Breath out.
For a simple breathing exercise, breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, breathe out for four counts and hold again for four counts (if you’re pregnant refrain from holding the breath). The correct way for breathing meditation is to breathing in through your nose and out through your nose while you repeat the words in your mind. This is a great one if you need some extra focus.
Relax and Meditate
You can also do a body scan meditation. An experienced meditator can quickly enter what is known as an altered or โflowโ state of calm and energized alertness. For beginners, start by closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, and repeating the word โRelax.โ Afterwards, start by moving your awareness down through the different parts of your body. It doesnโt have to be done on your own, as there are different sources online for a guided meditation with body scan. The voice will lead you to calm your emotions and still your thoughts.
Use Affirmations
Another method is to use affirmations to change your frame of mind. This is important, for every thought we think is creating our future. A thought can be changed for the good, and life will follow that thought to flow towards a positive experience. Since we have established that our subconscious mind accepts whatever we choose to believe, then these mantras and statements can change your life dramatically.
Click here for a list of affirmations.
It emphasizes skin care as relaxation, not vanity
The main reason why anyone does skincare is to improve their skin and to look more attractive. Despite the well-intentions, this emphasizes your vanity and will cause you worry and shame. Change the narrative from vanity to relaxation. This way, you will feel more appreciative of yourself without reaching for the idea of having perfect, glass skin.
Several things that you can do include turning off your lights, as you will be more relaxed in doing your skincare. Other than that, try to look away from the mirror as it can stress you out if your appearance does not fit the image in your mind. Finally, light a candle and let the candlelight encourage you to keep my eyes off of the mirror.
What do you think of these tips? Tell us in the comments section below!
