Once the exclusive privilege and preserve of royalty, aristocracy, and the upper classes, beauty rituals have marked their place in history, leaving behind a rewarding heritage in the modern age. Today, however, a vast majority of women around the world have the possibility to enjoy these beauty rituals not only at the beauty salons but also in the comfort of their own home. These small me-moments bring us joy in our everyday life, in which we often deal with numerous tasks and responsibilities.
I have been experimenting with different ways to streamline and/or create hacks for my beauty routine for months now, and I think I’ve sort of mastered the ones that work best for me. If you are searching for ways to simplify your beauty routine or bring a bit of joy to your day this winter, I think you just might find these useful!
Consistent skin care routine
I have talked about the importance of having a consistent skin care routine previously on the blog so it must come as no surprise that I have put this particular beauty ritual on the top of my list. Taking a proper care of your skin is even more crucial during the colder months of the year as winter can really wreak havoc on your skin — making it dry, itchy, and irritated. And it can feel like there’s no escape: cold, blustery conditions outside can leave your skin feeling raw, while indoor heat zaps moisture from the air and from your skin.
For this reason, I have made an extra effort this season to stick to my skin care routine (both in the mornings and in the evenings) and provide it with the all the hydration it needs. I have included a regular use of facial oils (like my all-time-favorite Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Facial Oil), a moisturizing mask at least two times per week (like HERKKÄ Soothing SOS Mask by Lumene), and a face mist to freshen up my face during the day (Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spa Water).
Nourishment for beautiful locks
If you live in a place where winter weather exists, then you’re likely all too familiar with the effects that dry and cold winter air conditions can have on your hair. We’re talking dryness, static, frizz, and general lack of that luscious, smooth, shiny summer hair. I have all of those hair problems when the temperatures start to drop so each year I am on the look for the best possible hair products that can keep the moisture in my hair.
This year I rely on the L’Oréal Elseve Extraordinary Oil Coconut Nourishing Shampoo – a luxurious yet lightweight formula that nourishes normal to dry hair, without weighing it down. Infused with fine coconut oil, the formula intensely nourishes, leaving hair feeling irresistibly soft whilst indulging your senses with an addictive coconut fragrance. I have also added the hair oil from the series which I apply on my ends just before blow drying my hair and I am also considering adding the hair mask for some weekly treatments.
Indulgent body lotion
Much like your winter wardrobe, your skin also needs an extra layer to protect it during the season’s subzero temperatures. While moisturizing your entire body may seem like an exhausting additional step to add to your skincare routine, once the central heat is on and the dry winter winds pick up, your flaky, cracked skin will thank you for giving it the TLC it needs to stay hydrated.
My body lotion of choice this winter has been the Barnängen Elderflower Sensitive Body Lotion – this is a Swedish brand that I have had my eyes on for quite some time now. The body lotion is the first product that I have tried from the brand and I can quite frankly say that I am obsessed! It gives my skin the necessary vitality and it makes it velvety soft and nourished. It is a truly luxurious experience to apply the product on my body after I have showered in the evening, get in my comfy pajamas and call it a day.
At-home manicure
I stopped having my manicure done at the salon at the beginning of the year when the first lockdown was imposed in Bulgaria. Since then I have mastered doing my nails myself and this has become one of my favorite beauty rituals to date. There is something about a beautiful manicure that just looks and feels elegant that brings me so much joy that I don’t intend on going back to the salon anytime soon.
Recently, my favorite nail colors have been the Essie Nail Colour 13 Mademoiselle Nail Polish and the Essie Nail Colour 6 Ballet Slippers Nail Polish – both of them are soft and classic pink hues that just go with everything in my wardrobe.
Hydration – from the inside out
Yes, there are a lot of beauty products that can hydrate your skin but my number one tip has always been DRINK MORE WATER. I always start my day with a big water bottle that I refill a few times per day in order to get the necessary hydration my body needs. And in days when I haven’t drank enough water, the effects are visible almost immediately – my skin get a lot drier than usual no matter how much moisturizer/body lotion I apply. So if you need to take one thing from today’s post, I hope that would be it – don’t forget to drink your water and your skin will thank you!
What are the beauty rituals that you bring you joy this winter? Let me know in the comments.
