“Self-care”, a term already rapidly approaching overkill, is the new pampering. As Marie Forleo Tweeted recently, “Your most valuable asset is you” (her new book “Everything is Figureoutable” is out now).
With worsening air and plastic pollution, 5G, living in a digital western world contaminated with HEV/Blue Light, the sobering climate emergency, GMOs and deteriorating water and soil quality in many parts of the world – all this plus general personal, job, family and life stress – it feels like we’re facing an onslaught from all directions.
But we can do much to boost our own health.
Never have sleep, correct breathing, meditation, mindfulness, clean eating, and taking *more* time for ourselves been so important.
No longer a treat or a luxury, self-care moves into the mandatory category as we move into a whole new decade with 2020 just 80 days away from today, Sun 13 Oct.
3 deep breaths, shoulders, jaw and neck relaxed…let it all go.
11 BEAUTY + WELLBEING TREATS FOR SELF-CARE SUNDAYS
** indicates the brand or product is a Beauty Shortlist winner
The drink: PUREARTH’s SPARKLING HIBISCUS KEFIR
The diffuser oil: **TISSERAND’S NEW PARADISE OIL one of 3 different and new bath, shower, mood mist and diffuser oil blends from the brand’s recent collaboration with National Geographic. Warm, bright and relaxing citrus notes of Jasmine, Grapefruit, Mandarin.
The Sunday Shine Shampoo: ** NOUGHTY HYDRATE & SHINE, a popular Beauty Shortlist winner.
The long, lazy bath: **CORINNE TAYLOR HIMALAYAN DETOX BATH SALTS (Lemon, Ginger and Fennel) mineral-rich and a lovely mind and body detoxer for early nights with a brilliant book.
The inside-out beauty drink: **COLLAGEN SHOTS Limited Edition ‘Pink Drink’ set. Throughout the month of October the founders of this excellent “skin drink” brand will be donating 10% to the Pink Ribbon Foundation and purchasers will also receive a 10% discount. Collagen levels in us literally plummet as we age so if you have a landmark birthday coming up, collagen should be in your life!
The organic antioxidant top-up: **FUSHI WELLBEING ACAI BERRY. Antioxidant superstars, acai berries are a potent fibre-rich anti-aging tool, good for the brain, heart and skin.
The natural, gentle face sponge for tired skin: **KONJAC SPONGE COMPANY PINK CLAY SPONGE (also check out their other sponges for different skin types and they do a special range for babies too)
The kind to the planet (and you) deodorant: EVERKIND
The rosewater moisturiser: HERBIVORE
The balm for hardworking hands: BALM BALM ROSE & GERANIUM HAND BALM
The soothe-everything balm: **DR PAW PAW
5 Everyday Self-Care ‘Shortcuts’
1. Buy a pair of blueblocker glasses and set your digital devices to “night mode” early evening. Stop looking at a screen 90 minutes before sleep time. Blue light interferes with the brain’s ability to switch off and sleep.
(When it gets dark, your pineal gland secretes melatonin, which signals your body to get tired and go to sleep but blue light blocks this natural process, making it harder to fall asleep).
2. Keep a good supergreen powder, capsules or tablets handy for those days you’ve fallen short on leafy greens and take then twice a day. Another great shortcut is organic powdered Japanese matcha tea. Made from the whole leaf it has more caffeine than green tea but it’s a powerhouse antioxidant…
I discovered matcha because I loathe the taste of green tea so I got around this thanks to matcha mint lattes. Bright green matcha energises and boosts “calm focus” for up to 6 hours without the coffee highs and lows. I take it morning and lunchtime or sometimes early afternoon if I have a really heavy workload. It’s also a great zero waste tea, like loose leaf teas: a reusable tin filled with powder.
3. Create your own bespoke sleep ritual: a calming herbal tea (lavender, rose, verbena, passionflower, peppermint, lemon balm, orange blossom or chamomile are good ones) – and if you take CBD oil for anxiety or sleep issues, take it an hour or more before bed.
A couple of chapters of a good real printed paper book (no digital screens near your pillow!) with an aromatherapy diffuser (geranium is a lovely nerve soother) in the bedroom, and before you drift off write down 3 things you’re grateful for tonight.
4. Get as much sunlight as you can in the colder months – a shortcut to this is waking earlier, to catch the morning light and getting out for a walk if you can as soon as the sun’s out as in autumn/winter as it can be annoyingly elusive. Getting OUTside is key in winter. Especially when the sun’s out.
And number 5, if there is any chance you have adrenal fatigue or burnout (if you suspect it, go get a saliva test done) you absolutely *have* to be in bed and asleep by 10pm latest in fact 9 or 9.30pm would be great if it’s possible.
Basically, as we all know it’s “go slower to heal your body faster”. I’d include Hashimotos and hypothyroidism in here too as these conditions are often closely linked with adrenal fatigue. Sleep is a powerful healer but it’s the early night part that’s the charm.
What normally works for you? Share your tips here x
Konjac Sponge Company’s range of facial sponges (great for travelling!)
