Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It’s as simple as that and yet, as a society, we have placed a lot of stigma on mental health.

The fear of being labelled a liability or that it’s ‘all in your head’ prevents people from speaking out and often makes the problem worse. We all struggle and being able to get through those struggles requires self-acceptance, time and importantly support. Ultimately, talking openly about how you feel and what you need is the start to making a real difference.

I myself have days that I find it impossible to get out of bed and do anything. I have spent hours just lying there, no tv, no music, doing nothing. The times I do drag myself to work, I just don’t want to be there. It’s sad because I love my job and the people I work with but sometimes it’s incredibly overwhelming. It can be all too easy to shut myself from the world and hide away but I always try and spend some time talking to close friends and I find it helps a lot for me to practice self care.

I’m not talking big things, nothing that’s going to drain my energy and make me feel even more exhausted. Small activities such as swapping my 50th cup of tea for a hot chocolate and a disney movie, lighting my candles and having a bubble bath. Every little thing helps and an at home facial gives me the ultimate boost. Going through the motions of a facial allow me to switch off and focus on the task at hand. It’s the ultimate feel good activity for me, as I can fully relax and know I’m treating my skin to some much deserved attention at the same time.

Here are my top skincare picks for a easy, stress-free facial.

Cleanse

I always start off with a really luxurious cleanser. I want this time to be calming and anything that is difficult to remove, smells too strong or too harsh is a big no-no. My favourite has to be the Rodial Bee Venom Cleansing Balm. I’ve tried so many balms and this one is by far the best. It just glides onto the skin allowing you to really cover those problem areas. I take a good few minutes just kneading and massaging, especially along my neck and jaw where most of my tension builds up. The great thing about this cleanser is that it turn to a milky toner on contact with water. A quick rinse with warm water and it melts away leaving no sticky or oily residue. Perfect.

Mask

I like to follow cleansing with an equally decadent face mask. The Body Shop have the most incredible range of masks and the Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask is a must-have. Unlike more traditional masks that dry on your skin, this one is so creamy it’s a joy to use. It gives your skin a slight tingle but in a delightfully refreshing way. Something I really appreciate when I’m not feeling 100% myself.

I like to apply all my face masks with a foundation brush. It provides me with a lot more control and I find the sensation of the soft bristles almost therapeutic. It also means I don’t have to deal with messy hands afterwards and I can get straight to reading my magazine of choice whilst the mask works it’s magic.

Once I’ve washed it off with water, I like to give my face another quick cleanse to remove any bits I’ve missed. The Rodial Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Water is my new favourite skincare product. It’s soothing and hydrating and leaves my skin feeling beautifully clean. Little extra steps like this are what make facials my top self care activity. It’s all about taking your time, doing things properly and enjoying every moment.

Moisturise

Finally I use my new best friend the Rodial Dragon’s Blood Essence Mist. I love a good hydrating mist but this one takes it to the next level. Not only does it provide the benefits of a tonic but a serum as well. I always forget to apply serum and the times I do, I find them to be a little sticky. This allows you to up your skincare game with just a few spritz. The formula is a lot more luxurious than the average facial spray and you can feel it. The list of intelligent ingredients this mist has is endless and it really is a ‘does it all’ product that provides visible benefits.

Finished off with Pixi Beauty’s radiance boosting Rose Flash Balm, my skin feels fantastic. More importantly I feel relaxed and a lot more prepared to tackle life!

Skincare is my Self Care

The important thing when it comes to self care is to do the things you enjoy. If you love a good pamper then why not try one at home. It doesn’t need to involve hi-tech beauty gadgets and super expensive skincare. It doesn’t even have to be the products mentioned here. Find whatever works for you and take 15 minutes out of your day to just be yourself.

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What are your favourite self care tips?

Note: All products included in this post I have purchased myself. I think they are fantastic products, especially Rodial and I can’t recommend them enough.

Beauty Bazaar cruelty free mental health Pixi Beauty Rodial self care Skin Care Skin Deep Skincare The Body Shop