Whether you’ve been working on your skincare for years or you’re guilty of picking up random new products every month, it might be time to reevaluate what goes on your face. This guide will discuss self-esteem and confidence and how they’re connected to self-care and wellness. We’ll help you figure out your skin type and share some tips for designing your perfect skincare routine. Finally, we’ll provide a few ideas around how you can make the most of your skincare time, using it to set up or wind down every day.
What is self-esteem?
Your self-esteem is the way you think about yourself. Whether you’re feeling down and doubting yourself or enjoying a period of pride and belief in your own abilities, it all contributes to your self-esteem. If your self-esteem is high, you’re viewing yourself positively, and your health and wellness are likely to be good. If your outlook is low, your physical and mental health can take a hit.
High self-esteem often leads us to take better care of ourselves. If we think we’re worth it, we tend to exercise, socialise, and spend more time on hygiene and grooming. In contrast, low self-esteem can cause us to neglect our health, appearance, and social life.
Can self-care boost self-esteem?
If your self-esteem is low, you might not feel like taking care of yourself properly. Motivating self-care can be challenging, but it’s a great way to improve your self-esteem without too much effort. Self-care doesn’t need to mean a long yoga class or a total diet change either; it can be as simple as taking a shower and watching your favourite show.
Is there a connection between skincare and self-esteem?
A good skincare routine aims to improve the condition and appearance of your skin. But the physical process of taking care of your skin can also do wonders for anxiety, self-confidence, and mood. Figuring out this daily self-care routine is an excellent way to combat low self-esteem.
How your skin looks on the outside can also significantly affect how you see yourself and how you think others see you. Smooth, healthy-looking skin can make you feel more confident and comfortable in your body, a goal many of us struggle with daily.
Finding a skincare routine that works for you
Creating a consistent skincare routine that works for your skin type is an excellent way to boost your self-care. Not only can this help to improve the appearance of your skin and address any unique concerns, but it can also help with self-image and mental health.
Figuring out your perfect routine means knowing your skin type, whether it’s dry, oily, or combination, and understanding your skin care concerns. Maybe you want to keep acne or pimples at bay. You might be trying to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or clear out your pores and smooth out your overall complexion. Whatever you’re shooting for, there are plenty of products that can work for you.
Understanding your skin type
We talk about skin type a lot because understanding yours is the first and, maybe, the most essential step in perfecting your routine. Say you have dry skin, but you’re using products designed for an oily or problem-free complexion. There’s a good chance these washes and serums are making your skin freak out. You need to be using the right products for your skin, catering to its unique wants to get it looking and feeling its best.
- Oily – your skin is naturally oily all over
- Dry – your skin lacks the natural oils that contribute to softness
- Combination – a combination of oily, dry, and normal skin
- Sensitive – is easily irritated and can react badly to new products
- Normal – perfectly balanced skin
Does one of these skin types sound like you? It might be difficult to tell if your skin is being influenced by environmental factors right now, like cold weather or a lack of sunlight. But think carefully about the way your skin behaves on the whole and head for products that will address your concerns.
Choosing the right products for you
Boost the sense of self-satisfaction you get from your skincare routine when using the products you know to be right. There are many beauty brands with lines for specific skin types. In contrast, others make universal products that can work well for everyone.
The best skincare for oily skin types
Our favourite products for oily skin types help balance out excess to make the most of your naturally hydrated complexion. Oily skin products aim to reduce sebum production, your skin’s natural oil, which means fewer black and whiteheads and a less greasy appearance.
If you have oily skin, use a cleanser to help balance your skin’s oils. Follow up with a hydrating gel moisturiser and a retinol serum in the evening. An exfoliating mask once or twice a week is a great way to stay in control.
The best skincare for dry skin types
Dry skin types should focus on hydration, which means a soft gel cleanser in the morning and evening, followed by a hyaluronic serum and moisturiser in the morning. In the evening, use a heavier water-based moisturiser and a treatment oil or overnight mask once or twice a week.
The best skincare for sensitive skin types
If your skin becomes red and irritated very quickly, you’ll want to take care of it with sensitive products. Use a light cleansing lotion in the morning, then keep it simple with a sensitive-friendly moisturiser. In the evening, a swipe of micellar water and your cleansing lotion, followed by a heavier moisturiser, should work a treat. Your weekly indulgences could be a sheet mask or gel face mask.
Boosting your self-esteem with your morning skincare
Wake up, roll out of bed, and head straight for the bathroom. It’s a cycle many of us follow, but what you do when you arrive can have a significant impact on the rest of your day. Take this time to freshen up by washing and moisturising, sure! But your morning skincare routine also provides an excellent opportunity to check-in. Keep your phone away and take this time to figure out how you’re feeling and settle into your body, ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Using your evening skincare routine as self-care time
Whatever your skincare routine involves, make the most of it to boost your mood every day. While you might feel rushed in the morning, getting straight down to the business of your three-step routine, the evenings are your time to relax.
- Light some candles in your bathroom or dressing room to set a relaxing atmosphere
- Make a cup of your favourite tea or hot chocolate to sip while you apply your skincare
- Take each step slowly, massaging products into your skin for up to 60 seconds to enjoy their full benefits
Your nightly skincare routine is the perfect opportunity to unwind in front of the mirror and check-in with yourself. Whatever has happened that day, setting aside the same short period every evening is something you can look forward to without feeling guilty. Basic hygiene and grooming aside, this time can be an excellent boost for your mental health, which, in turn, can help improve your self-esteem.
Why not try a few minutes of mediation to finish up your nightly skincare routine? Research shows this ancient practice can help reduce stress and anxiety, which means better emotional health to carry you through each day.
Whatever way you choose to care for your skin, make the most of every moment and understand that you’re doing something to care for yourself. If you look after your body well, your mind will often follow, so you can enjoy happier days no matter what the world throws at you.
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