Winter Self Care Rituals

Your Calmer Winter Reset: Simple Rituals for Skin, Wellbeing and Home

Winter and the run up to Christmas can be a strange mix, can’t it?

On the one hand there are twinkly lights, cosy evenings and festive treats.

On the other, there are long to do lists, extra social plans, family expectations and a mind that never quite switches off.

And then there are the niggles like dry hands, your face feeling tight or sore, yet still needing to look radiant for events and get-togethers.

If you have ever dreaded this time of year because it plays havoc with both your skin and your stress levels, you are not alone.

In this blog I am sharing three simple winter rituals to help you feel more hydrated, grounded and supported:

• a skincare ritual

• a wellbeing reset

• a mind, body and home ritual

You can start with one, or gently weave all three into your week.

1. Skincare: think “hydrate and seal” not “strip and scrub”

When the heating goes on and the temperature drops, your skin is working hard to hold on to moisture. Hot showers, harsh cleansers and central heating can all make that harder.

Here are three ideas that make a big difference.

a) Hydrate from the inside out

Glowing skin starts before you even pick up a moisturiser.

• Swap the odd tea or coffee for herbal infusions or warm citrus water. For example lemon, orange zest and ginger.

• Lean into water rich foods like soups, stews, vegetables and fruit.

You do not need to be perfect, but these little swaps give your skin a much better starting point.

b) Layer your skincare like knitwear

It can help to think of your skincare as layers of clothing.

A simple winter routine could look like this:

1. Gentle cleanse with lukewarm water so your face does not feel tight or “squeaky”.

2. Hydrating mist or floral water on damp skin.

3. Serum or facial oil for nutrients and comfort.

4. Moisturiser to seal everything in.

If your skin is very dry, you can apply moisturiser first, then press a few drops of facial oil or serum on top as your “coat”.

c) Do not forget lips, hands and feet

Winter does not only affect your face.

• Lips: a gentle lip scrub made with a tiny amount of balm and a pinch of fine sugar, followed by balm, can help stop them cracking.

• Hands: after washing and drying your hands, use a pea sized amount of rich hand cream and really massage it in.

• Feet: smooth on a foot cream at night, put on cotton socks and let it work while you sleep.

Mini 60 second evening ritual

After your evening cleanse, mist your face, massage in your moisturiser, press in a few drops of facial oil, then finish with lip balm and hand cream.

It takes around a minute, but your skin will thank you in the morning.

If you would like everything in one place, this is the kind of routine my Winter Radiance Face Ritual Set was designed to support, and it also includes a free lip balm to keep your lips happy.

2. Wellbeing: do less and breathe more

Christmas stress comes up in my therapy room every year. Much of the pressure we feel is not only about what is happening, but about what we expect from ourselves.

Here are a few ideas to gently reduce that pressure.

a) Change the channel in your mind

If your mind is looping thoughts like “this is going to be awful” or “this is too much”, try changing the picture.

• Take a minute to imagine how you would like the festive season to feel.
  Picture people being kind, things going smoothly, and you feeling calm and present.

• If you are spending it alone, imagine creating a day that actually feels nourishing for you, rather than what you feel you “should” do.

This does not magically fix everything, but it stops your nervous system rehearsing worst case scenarios.

b) Boundaries are a form of self care

You do not have to see everyone or do everything.

• Look at your to do list and gently ask “what can I remove, reduce or delegate?”.

• When someone invites you to something, practise saying “can I check my diary and let you know” instead of an automatic yes.

Every “no” to something draining is a “yes” to your health.

c) Tiny nervous system resets

Think of this season as a chance to sprinkle short pauses into your day.

You could try:

• A five minute breath break.
  Sit or stand with your feet flat on the floor, place one hand on your heart and one on your belly, and take slow inhalations and longer exhalations.

• A scent reset.
  Roll an aromatherapy blend on to your pulse points and take three slow breaths, or spritz a calming room mist around your space.

Essential oils such as lavender, sweet orange and frankincense can be very helpful here, because they support both mind and body.

If you would like a ready made way to build this into your evenings, my Head to Toe Comfort Ritual Set was created so that you can moisturise your body, hands and feet and also use a De Stress roll on to help you unwind.

3. Mind, body and home: create tiny sanctuaries

Your environment has a big impact on how you feel.

It can really help to see your home as a supportive space rather than just a backdrop.

a) Let home comforts really count

Instead of collapsing in front of the television and scrolling at the same time, you can turn ordinary things into little rituals.

For example:

• Light a candle, make a nourishing hot drink and really savour the first few sips.

• Wrap up in a blanket and enjoy your book, film or conversation with your phone in another room.

It is the intention that turns “habit” into comfort.

b) Use aromatherapy to shift the atmosphere

Scent can help you stay calm and feel more positive during winter.

You might like to:

• Spritz a calming room and linen mist in your living space as you move from work mode into evening mode.

• Use a Peace or bedtime style spray in the bedroom as part of your wind down routine.

• Add a few drops of essential oils such as sweet orange, frankincense or lemon to a diffuser or burner, following safety guidelines, to create a fresher and more uplifting atmosphere.

  

c) Anchor it in your body

You can pair your “home” ritual with a simple body check in:

• Feel your feet on the floor.

• Notice your breathing.

• Ask yourself “what is the kindest thing I can do for myself in the next ten minutes” and, if you can, do that.

This is a lovely place to use my Home and Wellbeing Aromatherapy Ritual Set, which includes a carrier oil for simple blends, a room mist and essential oils that can help your space feel more like a sanctuary.

Bringing it all together

You do not have to overhaul your whole life to feel better this winter.

If all you did was:

• add one “hydrate and seal” skincare minute to your evenings

• take one five or ten minute pause each day to breathe and reset

• create one cosy corner at home with a favourite room mist and warm drink

you would already be doing more for your skin, your nervous system and your mood than many people manage at this time of year.

And if you would like some ready made support, that is exactly why I have created my three Winter Ritual Sets. One for your face, one for head to toe comfort, and one for your home and wellbeing.

Whether you use my products or not, I hope these ideas help you feel more hydrated, calmer and a little more like yourself in the middle of it all.

Until next time,
Take care of YOU!
Louisa