Self-care is about unwinding, and that looks different for everyone. Some people read, watch movies, workout, take walks, listen to music, etc. The purpose of self-care is to relieve one of stress and keep oneself grounded. Life can get extremely chaotic, and some people feel like they lose control over themselves and their lives. However, practicing self-care can help one with regaining this control and provide one with an stress-relieving outlet.
For me, doing my makeup or skincare is therapeutic. Putting the energy and effort into my skin, focusing on myself for however long it is, makes all of the other stressors in my life float away.
I always do my makeup in a routine that I never really venture from. The structure of my routine and consistency of it is appealing to me. I always know what comes next and I can really focus on perfecting a makeup look while playing music from my television. Yes, it is easy to put together a makeup look in 30 minutes, but taking time to focus on myself brings me a kind of peace. It’s my own little world.
Makeup therapy can also look like trying out different looks. Being creative and having fun with your products makes doing makeup personal and exciting. For example, I bought face gems to do fun, sparkly looks. I also bought an eyeshadow palette with all sorts of vibrant colors across the rainbow. Makeup therapy gives me the opportunity to be creative and artistic in a stressless environment. Trying out new things can often be scary or intimidating, but doing my makeup is all about me.
Skincare, too, brings on another essence of quietness. My morning and night skincare routines remain consistent and these are perfect ways to start and end my days. However, there are times where I need to put even more focus into myself. Some days I will use face masks, use little plastic razors to shave the peach fuzz off of my face, do a more of an extensive gua sha routine, or apply a perfect clay mask. Putting that time and energy into my skin not only improves my skin’s appearance but also helps relieve stress.
Another huge aspect of makeup therapy and skincare that helps promote self-care is the “outside work/research” you put into your routines. Learning about your skin type, trying products to see what works best for your skin, and looking into different products makes you prioritize yourself. From there, you start to glow, gain more confidence, and invite more inner peace into your life. That effort and energy being put into yourself and your skin begins to physically show.
Unwinding and focusing on yourself is the ultimate goal of self-care. It takes time and energy to focus on yourself, but there are so many different ways to do this. It’s not always about meditation or working out or cleaning your space. Sometimes, it’s all about the face.
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