How to Make Skincare Feel Like Meditation
How to Make Skincare Feel Like Meditation
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How to Make Skincare Feel Like Meditation | Well With Brielle
Mindfulness can be an easy way to bring more calm and intention into your day.
I love mindfulness because it can be practiced whenever you want, doesn’t require a set amount of time, and can happen anywhere.
Your skincare routine may already be one of the easiest places to practice mindfulness.
Here for the products?
Browse my skincare, beauty and self care favorites in one place.
To practice mindfulness during your skincare routine, you do not need a longer routine, more products or a perfectly styled bathroom.
Keep the same products and the same routine.
You have everything you need.
The shift is simply in where your attention goes while you complete your skincare routine.
By slowing down one step, noticing the physical sensations and giving yourself a few intentional minutes, an everyday skincare routine can start to feel more like meditation.
Keep reading for a simple way to turn the skincare routine you already have into a mindful practice.
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Table of Contents
How to Turn Your Skincare Routine Into a Mindful Practice
Why the Mirror Matters
Morning and Evening Skincare Have Different Jobs
Morning Skincare
Practicing Mindfulness Skincare on Busy Days
Evening Skincare
What Invites You to Slow Down
Somewhere Beautiful and Practical to Keep Your Products
Select a Moisturizer You Genuinely Enjoy Using
Use a Cleanser You Love Using
Choose a Skincare Tool That Makes the Routine Feel Better
Apply a Face Oil That Works Well for Your Skin
Light a Candle (Real or Electric Counts Too!)
The Two Step Version for Tired Nights
Your Mindful Skincare Routine Can Go Beyond Your Face
Hands
Feet
Body
Neck and Jaw
How to Make a Shared Bathroom Feel More Like Your Own
Tips for How to Keep a Mindful Skincare Routine Going
What is your biggest skincare priority right now, and which product are you loving for it?
Leave a comment below — I’d love to know.
How to Make Skincare Feel Like Meditation
First, think about what skincare already gives you.
When you practice your skincare routine, you repeat many of the same motions each day.
Your hands are physically touching your skin. There is a clear beginning and end. And for at least a few minutes, you have a built-in opportunity to focus on one experience at a time.
Call it wellness habit stacking. Instead of adding another practice to your evening, you are pairing mindfulness with a routine that is already part of your day.
That combination is what makes skincare such a natural place to practice mindfulness. You are already there, already touching your skin, already repeating the same few motions.
All you need now is to bring your awareness and attention into focus, and that is practicing mindfulness.
Skincare also gives you something many other routines do not: a mirror.
We naturally use the mirror to check our appearance, our skin, to apply products and notice changes, which makes it either a distraction or a cue, depending on how you use it. There is a version of this practice for each, and both are below.
With both approaches to mindfulness, the skincare routine itself can stay exactly the same.
What changes is your attention.
How to Turn Your Skincare Routine Into a Mindful Practice
Start with one step.
First, before you begin, choose one intention for the minute ahead. The intention you set can be as simple as, I am here and I am present for me.
Then, let’s begin our skincare routine.
Personally, I enjoy doing steps of my skincare routine and using mindfulness throughout each one because it is a different experience.
For this demonstration, let’s focus on the step in your skincare when you apply your moisturizer. In fact, if you want to start small that can be the only part of your skincare routine that you initially practice mindfulness during.
To start, as you move through your routine, notice the temperature of your products. Their texture. The pressure of your hands. Notice where you may be holding tension around your jaw, forehead or eyes.
When your attention drifts, bring it back to one of those sensations.
If you want something to gaze at, instead of watching yourself in the mirror, look at your hands. Feel the texture of them along with your moisturizer.
How does the temperature of your hands compare to the temperature of the moisturizer or perhaps skincare tools you are using?
Pay attention to how it feels between your fingers.
Feel the pressure you are using as you apply it.
Check whether you are holding tension around your jaw, between your eyebrows or around your eyes.
When your mind wanders, which it might (because that’s natural and okay), simply return your attention to your hands or another sensation you’re experiencing.
Always bring your focus back to the present moment and what is happening now.
Right now the focus is your self care, completing your mindful skincare routine.
The practice is choosing one physical sensation and returning your attention to it.
Try it for sixty seconds.
Honor the intention you set. That’s also self care.
Once you’re done, if you want an extra boost, it’s a great bonus also to journal about your experience. Perhaps noting how you felt before, during, after. You could even use the Aurela wellness app to log your journal prompt and check off your AM or PM skincare ritual for the day.
No matter what you choose next, be sure to express gratitude for taking time out for yourself and hold on to any positivity that comes from the experience.
That is the difference between simply completing your skincare and creating a mindful skincare routine.
Shop the Mindful Skincare Edit
Everything from this post in one place, from skincare and bath to the pretty extras that make a mindful skincare routine easier to keep.
Why the Mirror Matters
The first mindful skincare practice above asks you to look away from the mirror. That is one option and here is another way to practice your mindful skincare routine while using a mirror.
I love using a mirror during skincare, and bonus if you pair it with affirmations!
Speaking of affirmations, meet Bella Exhale, my new channel of whispered affirmations and sleep subliminals, created by Well with Brielle. Press play while you do your skincare or as you drift off to sleep. The first YouTube video is coming soon, and you can explore Bella Exhale now.
Benefits Of Using The Mirror
The mirror helps you see what you are doing, notice your skin and move through your routine with intention.
For this version of a mindful skincare routine, use the mirror to bring more awareness to your experience. In other words, the mirror itself becomes the cue to slow down or take notice of specific aspects. It’s now an additional tool and never a distraction.
Remember, this is about noticing your senses and staying present. It's okay if your mind drifts and you can take note of those thoughts you want to return to…but later not now.
Now we still honor our intention of self care.
If your mind drifts, simply bring it back into focus. It’s okay and it’s normal.
Next, look in the mirror and notice what you see. Pay attention to what you feel. Explore your senses.
Take in your whole face rather than immediately focusing on one area. Then, for one step, let your attention move to your hands and the way the product feels against your skin.
Notice the texture, the pressure and your facial expression.
Take note of how you’re feeling physically and your mood.
Relax your jaw. Soften your brow. Give yourself one quiet minute of care.
Continue to stay present as you complete your mindfulness skincare routine.
When you’re done, express gratitude, journal, and enjoy the moment. You deserved it and it’s available again whenever you’re ready to return.
Overall, your mirror can be more than a place to track your skincare progress. Your mirror can become part of your ritual—a reminder to be present with the face you are caring for today.
If you have ever wondered how to make skincare feel like mindful self care, this is where I would start.
Related:
Soft Life Self Care Nighttime Routine
What is the one product you always repurchase, no matter what else changes?
Leave a comment below — I’d love to know.
Morning and Evening Skincare Have Different Jobs
I do not believe every routine needs to become a romanticized ritual. To be honest, it depends on my mood and what I need to motivate me for a moment. Being in tune with how you feel and what will move things forward is also self care because I’m giving myself what I need and I’m never forcing anything.
Realistically, on a busy day skincare truly is functional. That may mean workdays or certain peaks in the week where you are short on time, energy or both.
It’s never a negative thing. It’s just life and those variations are what make life beautiful.
Despite these busy moments, mindfulness can still be used as a tool to:
Bring awareness back to yourself and the present moment
Engage in meditation practices that are healthy and will support your day
Add extra self care to any moment
Morning Skincare
I love mornings because they mark a new day, a new opportunity to express gratitude for life and continue to do my best, continue to tap into my higher self.
Nevertheless, it’s still often a busy morning. That could mean sleeping in on a weekend then later having to get ready for an event. Or perhaps it’s a typical weekday where there is more structure to the day yet less control in terms of what you’re able to cancel, pause or delay. It’s natural for your everyday routines like your skincare to become a rushed practice or a moment of your day you barely recall. Sometimes I like to change the story by instead making those little moments opportunities for big wellness wins.
For instance, morning skincare, especially on a workday, is usually functional for me. I want and truly need my skincare routine in the morning to be quick and effective.
Cleanse.
Moisturize.
SPF.
Get dressed.
Go.
Regardless of how much time I have or what is on my plate, my skincare routine is still a great opportunity for me to pause and be intentional about practicing mindfulness.
Here’s how you can do it too:
Practicing Mindfulness Skincare on Busy Days
The mindfulness practice stays the same. The only component that has changed is how much time you have.
On days that you are busy, you can still be present and bring awareness to a fast and simple skincare routine.
In fact, I’ve found that these short but intentional practices of mindfulness during what could be a busy or stressful time can often be the most meaningful experiences, especially for setting the tone throughout my entire day.
Evening Skincare
Your evening skincare routine is usually a more flexible time to slow down and spend more time on your self care if you want to.
The day is ending.
There is less urgency.
Maybe you even have nothing planned, no obligations and want to spend the evening winding down, but without all the elaborate details you may normally add to romanticize the experience.
That’s an opportunity to practice mindfulness.
Instead of creating an entirely separate meditation practice or evening of self care rituals, you can attach mindfulness to something you already do like your evening skincare routine.
Honestly, this is the same reason I love building a Soft Life Self Care Nighttime Routine around habits that already fit into the evening instead of creating an unrealistic routine I may never repeat. It makes my everyday lifestyle consistent because it’s effective yet still easy to maintain.
Well with Brielle believes that everyone needs something different so definitely explore what works well for you and what self care activities you most enjoy. You can also pull ideas from my Pretty Nighttime Rituals: End Your Day Well if you want your skincare to become part of a wind down routine.
Not sure where to start?
If you’re a morning person try the AM skincare routine. In contrast, if you enjoy sleeping in and catching the stars then try practicing mindfulness during your PM skincare routine.
Most important is to remember that mindfulness can be practiced anytime, anywhere. It’s all about being present and intentional about where your attention goes.
Have you tried mindfulness practices before?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to know!
What Invites You to Slow Down
If you’re still curious about ways to slow down and practice mindfulness, I do have a few tips.
Here’s how you can intentionally slow down and practice mindfulness during your skincare routine:
Start with what you already own.
What are your favorite products to use when you complete your skincare routine? Any favorite tools or new ones that you have been excited to try? Grab those!
The products and tools you genuinely enjoy using are usually the easiest ones to slow down with.
A moisturizer with a gentle scent you love, a cleanser that feels good on your skin, or a skincare tool that’s pretty to use while also leaving your skin feeling transformed.
Somewhere Beautiful and Practical to Keep Your Products
I like keeping my everyday products visible and easy to reach.
A pretty tray or countertop organizer can make the routine feel more intentional while still being functional. When your everyday favorites are already in sight, it is easier to move through your routine without searching through drawers.
If you follow @WellwithBrielle on Instagram and TikTok then you know that I love to keep my favorite products arranged on a pretty marble and gold tray where they are easy to reach for. Additionally, it’s a pretty reminder to practice self care and pretty products also romanticize each routine.
I’ve included some of my favorite and most effective skincare tools and products in this post. If you are buying anything, I would prioritize what makes your existing routine feel better and easier to enjoy. You can also review your routine and add on anything that will enhance it. During your mindfulness skincare routine this can be an opportunity to bring awareness to how your new product(s) or tool(s) feel/smell, etc. Compare it to your existing products and just observe your thoughts. If your mind wanders, bring it back to your senses and the skincare routine. That’s mindfulness.
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Here are ways you can also invite yourself to slow down while practicing mindfulness during your skincare routine:
Select a Moisturizer You Genuinely Enjoy Using
Your moisturizer is the product I would prioritize if moisturizer is going to become your slower step.
Texture matters.
You want something appropriate for your skin that also feels pleasant enough that you do not immediately want to finish and move on. The gel cream I reach for is in my Self Care Bath + Shower list along with some of my other skincare and body favorites.
Check this out:
Use a Cleanser You Love Using
Cleansing is also important because it’s the step that gives you a fresh, clean face. Choose a cleanser that meets your skin needs. Typically that could mean buying based on having combination skin, dry skin, or even a combination of both. Build your products around what supports your skin health and brings you joy. Some of my products are really pretty and effective, but you’ll notice I do go for the products in less pretty packaging depending on my skincare needs. Meeting my needs is a bigger glow up than having a pretty vanity with perfectly styled items. And if the visuals are important to you, you can always tuck away the other products knowing they are still close by for use.
Well With Brielle Tip:
Put your phone face down before you start. Your skincare routine is only a few minutes, so let that time belong to you.
Tag me @WellwithBrielle on Instagram and show me how you’re making your skincare routine feel more mindful.
Choose a Skincare Tool That Makes the Routine Feel Better
A skincare tool you genuinely enjoy using can work especially well with this idea because it gives your attention somewhere physical to go.
Instead of moving through cleansing or moisturizing while completely on autopilot, pay attention to the sensation, pressure and movement. You can even focus on aspects of the tool that you find pleasure in. It may be related to how it is making your skin feel or you may even explore its shape, color, etc. The important part is that you’re being intentional aka mindful about where your awareness goes.
My FOREO LUNA is one of my favorite skincare tools and works especially well for this mindfulness practice because of its built-in timer. It gently lets me know when it is time to move to another area of my face, giving me an easy cue to stay present with each step. Not to mention, the Foreo Luna is gorgeous. I’ve been using her for years and she makes the best gift for anyone.
Also, I love The Skinny Confidential tools, especially the Pink Balls Facial Massager and Hot Mess Ice Roller. And yes, I have the cute matching TSC sleeping bag for them too!
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Apply a Face Oil That Works Well for Your Skin
You do not need to add face oil just for this practice.
I’ve found there are many skin benefits to using facial oil in my skincare routine. Additionally, I have dry skin so I find that the oil helps to lock in moisture especially during seasons of colder weather. Moreover, applying an effective face oil can feel like a luxurious but effortless extra touch. I love how my face feels and the glow I have after applying face oil. Some of my favorite face oils are by Herbivore. I’ve been using Herbivore skincare products for years and I typically will select an oil based on my skincare goals at that time. Some oils feel thicker than others and Herbivore has different product line options based on your skincare needs.
If using a face oil is a part of your skincare routine or you’re ready to incorporate it, warming a couple of drops between your palms before pressing it into your skin can be a relaxing step. Self care can be that simple! Mindfulness comes in as you focus on how you feel, the texture, the temperature, everything you are experiencing.
Light a Candle (real or electric counts too!)
Lighting a candle before skincare can become a signal that this part of the evening has started.
Depending on the candle you choose, the scent and seeing the candle can become a natural cue that you’re ready to wind down for the day.
Candles are not required for mindfulness, but it’s another easy way to set the vibes and even romanticize the moment.
Moreover, routines can be easier to maintain when you have a cue to consistently mark that it’s time for the routine.
For you, that might be a candle, softer bathroom lighting, instrumental music or putting your phone down. Take time to explore what works well to help you intentionally slow down as you practice mindfulness.
The Two Step Version for Tired Nights
Some evenings call for the simplest version of your skincare routine.
Cleanse.
Moisturize.
Let the moisturizer become the slower step because you’re almost done, so let’s make it a grand ending!
You do not have to rush because you are tired, but it does not have to take long either. Stay present and intentional.
Eyes on your hands.
That is enough.
A routine that still works on your busiest or most tired nights is easier to keep. I love wellness rituals that are flexible to meet real life which can be unexpected, and practicing mindful skincare can do the same. In fact, I find that sometimes those quick, but effective wellness practices like mindfulness can improve your mood overall giving you a little energy.
Your Mindful Skincare Routine Can Go Beyond Your Face
Once slowing down starts to feel natural, the same idea can be applied to other parts of your self care routine.
Here are some ways you can practice mindfulness during your entire skincare routine:
Hands
Most of us apply hand cream while already doing something else.
Try sitting down instead.
Focus on what you are doing.
Massage the cream or lotion into each finger, between your fingers, across your palms and around the base of your thumbs.
Move slowly and intentionally with love because this is self care and an act of self love.
This takes about a minute and feels completely different when you are paying attention.
Feet
A thicker moisturizer or balm gently applied to your feet before bed can be another easy addition. Also, it’s an easy glow up step if you’re looking to care for your feet better.
You can take your time, feeling your feet individually as you massage in the moisturizer.
Notice which parts of your feet are smoothest.
Perhaps pausing to give certain parts extra massage time if it feels good.
Take your time. Focus on your senses.
Lastly, when you’re done, consider adding socks to lock in extra moisture and warmth, perfect for a cozy self care evening.
Body
Body cream or lotion after a shower is necessary to keep your skin healthy and moisturized.
Practice mindfulness using the same techniques.
Take your time.
Notice each sense, and if your mind drifts, bring it back.
Neck and Jaw
Many of us work jobs that require spending time on a computer or even may be students that work a lot on devices. Either way, this can impact our neck and even our jaw. You may notice yourself carrying tension here.
Take time to gently massage your neck and even your jaw as you go through your typical skincare routine.
Also, this is an opportunity to lightly stretch and roll your neck if you want.
Slow, comfortable motions are enough.
How to Make a Shared Bathroom Feel More Like Your Own
A mindful skincare routine can work in any space.
If you share a bathroom or simply feel more relaxed somewhere else, maybe try splitting your skincare routine.
First, cleanse at the sink, then take your moisturizer somewhere that feels more comfortable for you.
The environment does not matter because the focus is mindfulness itself, you already know your skincare routine well and remember using a mirror is optional.
Tips for How to Keep a Mindful Skincare Routine Going
The most consistent routines to keep are the ones that are easy to return to.
I like to build and track my rituals inside Aurela, a wellness app I created for Well with Brielle.
Aurela has Skincare AM and Skincare PM rituals you can tick off quickly each day, and you can even create your own custom rituals if you prefer.
Ticking off each wellness ritual that you complete can be an easy way to celebrate your self care wins and even track your consistency if you’re curious. Additionally, the habit of tracking, especially your self care routines, can be an easy cue to slow down instead of rushing through your day.
And because Aurela has features for all dimensions of wellness, skincare can live gorgeously alongside the other wellness and self care rituals you want to support your day.
If you want another way to slow down after your routine, you can also try my Find Calm Now guided meditation.
Which step are you slowing down tonight?
Tell me in the comments.
Final Thoughts
I love to practice mindfulness because it's an easy and effective wellness tool. Basically, I don’t need anything and I can do it anywhere anytime.
Completing a mindful skincare routine has been a great way for me to slow down, relax, and really be more present with myself physically and mentally.
If you want, having a mindful skincare routine can become a part of your regular practice too. Everything you need is already part of your skincare routine.
Mindfulness meets you where you are and there is no way to mess up or do it wrong, just dedicate time to channel your awareness and bring your attention back when needed.
Use the products you love. Slow down at least one step.
Notice the texture, temperature and movement of your hands.
Relax your jaw.
Let yourself enjoy a few quiet minutes that belong entirely to you.
The shift is in your attention.
When you’re ready, choose one step in your skincare routine and be fully present for it.
Refreshing my self care shower with a soft everything shower reset. Here’s what I’m currently using and rotating in my shower routine.