Meditation is the secret to glowing skin. Here are 8 mindful beauty tips to relax your mind and refresh your face

Mindfulness isn’t only for meditation classes and Zen Buddhists. Katy Sunnassee looks at how to weave a little mindful beauty into your daily skincare for a more refreshed and relaxed visage

Words: Katy Sunnassee | Images: Shutterstock & various brands

Mindful beauty is all the rage (or perhaps rage is the wrong word here when we’re talking about calmness and serenity!). But for a good few years now the mindful skincare movement has been growing, with countless videos popping up on social media around calming cleansing routines, aromatherapy-filled formulas to de-stress you, and gua sha/crystal roller tutorials to gently massage away stress all while boosting circulation.

And in this ever-busy world, it makes sense to tag mindfulness onto your skincare routine, especially if you’re time-poor and can’t afford a whole hour or more for conventional relaxation, such as meditation, yoga or even having a long bath – as nice as that would be each evening! Weaving mini moments of calm into your day, notably at the start and end of your day, is a lovely way to tune in to yourself, and your skin.

‘The mind-skin connection is powerful, and how you feel can play a part in your skin’s appearance,’ says holistic therapist and head of education at SBC Skincare, Adele O’Donoghue.

Your skin says a lot more than you think about your mental wellbeing. If you’re feeling stressed or going through a turbulent time, this may show up on your skin through breakouts, hives, eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea flare ups, as well as general redness and dullness. For example, when you’re stressed, your skin can get sweatier, blush or break out in rashes or hives, while fear and anxiety can cause skin to feel colder and look drier. Anger and worry can cause you to frown more, which leads to the faster formation of fine lines and deeper wrinkles especially between the eyebrows.

And skin conditions, in turn, can have a negative impact on your mental health, including adding to feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem.

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Mindful beauty: Treat skin from within

‘Elevated cortisol, from stress, will trigger your skin barrier, leading to breakouts, whereas dopamine, the feel-good hormone, can help improve your circulation and thereby helps support your skin’s barrier,’ says Adele, adding that by taking a holistic approach to skin health, not only in terms of a mindful skincare routine but ‘being less reactive and more mindful in your day-to-day life’, you’ll be supporting your skin inside and out.

As well as being less stressed in your daily life, carefully considering and curating your environment – especially in the bathroom or bedroom where you apply your skincare – can amplify the benefits. ‘A calm environment can help the way you feel and how your skin reacts. Relaxing music can lower your heart rate, reduce cortisol levels, and release endorphins, which all help skin health,’ adds Adele.

So, what is a mindful beauty routine, exactly? It can be different for everyone, but here are some ideas…

Your mindful beauty morning routine

Try this AM routine from Adele O’Donoghue to help calm and de-stress, so you and your skin are ready for the day…

Listen in

Playing calming/uplifting music or listening to a favourite podcast can be a nice thing to do while you cleanse your face. The more you pay attention to your surroundings and factor them into your skincare routine, the more encouragement you’ll give your skin to heal and replenish as you’re not adding further emotional stress.

Drain it

Lymphatic drainage can help drain away toxins, while also waking you and your skin up for the day. It involves massaging your skin to stimulate the flow of lymph, a fluid that carries toxins and waste away from your tissues. It helps boost circulation while reducing puffiness, inflammation and congestion. It can be done at home by using your fingers, a jade roller or a gua sha, following the natural contours of your face, neck and chest. Always roll towards the lymph nodes: think outwards from the centre of your face towards your ears, then down your neck towards your collarbones. Always go gently so as not to bruise.

Freshen up

It can be nice to add a facial spritz in the morning such as Pestle & Mortar Balance Fine Misting Facial Spritz. And if you want to go a step further and de-stress your body, try SBC Skincare Arnica & Wintergreen Targeted Rescue Spritz to help soothe achy or tight joints.

Pestle and Mortar Balance Facial Spritz

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Slow down

The number of steps in your skincare routine might differ from others but whether you apply 2-3 products or 8-9 (as they often do in Korea), take your time between each product application, not only to let the products fully absorb but to slow down and enjoy your routine. When you have to rush to get ready, it can add to your stress or make you forgetful, so be sure to get up a little earlier if it means being able to dedicate more time to your morning cleanse, moisturiser and SPF routine.

Your mindful beauty evening routine…

These tips from Adele will help you make the most of your PM routine…

Take it easy

Taking a bath or shower after a day of work can do wonders for your stress levels. A bath can help to lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and increase your body’s temperature so it then cools, which is perfect for inducing sleep. You can start your skincare routine while the bath is running, cleansing with a lightweight, hydrating formula such as SBC Skincare Green Tea & Ginkgo Biloba Toning Gel Cleanser, or opt for a face mask you then remove post-bath so it does the work while you soak. Try Embryolisse Masque Hydration Intense.

Embryolisse Masque Hydration Intense

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Scent-sational!

Scents are a powerful way to bio-hack your brain. Fragrances that make you feel happy or remind you of special occasions can promote wellbeing. Try OSKIA Rose De Mai Massage Candle, which doubles up as a massage oil; or add SBC Skincare Night Rituals Sleep Soak to your bath to help you relax. The Elemental Herbology Rejuvenate Reed Diffuser can also help soothe your mind. Lavender, vetiver, clary sage and valerian all help promote a relaxed mind, perfect for your evening wind down.

Rose de Mai Treatment Candle

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Massage away

Skincare tools such as the ESPA Aventurine Jade Crystal Roller can be a great addition to your evening routine, helping your skin stay cool and calm while ironing out any tension. You might even look into at-home devices such as an LED light tool to wear while you relax for 15 minutes – you can also get hands-free ones you wear. Try the STYLPRO Pure Red LED Light Therapy Facial Device which helps to stimulate collagen while repairing skin for a more glowing complexion.

ESPA Aventurine Jade Crystal Roller

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Stay hydrated

Lastly, drinking water throughout the day is a great way to keep your skin looking good. When skin is dehydrated, it can feel tight and dry. But while you want to increase your water intake in the daytime, don’t drink too much before bed or you risk waking up needing a wee! Do keep a large glass of it by your bedside though so that upon waking you can immediately hydrate yourself.