This blog post is sponsored by Dove. All opinions and experiences are my own.
Is self-care on your to-do list? I champion self-love, nurturing self-confidence and loving the skin you’re in. Often as women we put our needs last or they never even make the list. I have been guilty as well. The laundry, kids, prepping meals, and of late for many, virtual learning supersedes everything else. The older I’ve gotten however it’s one thing I make time for and take very seriously.
Skincare is a big part of my self-love and self-care regimen. I love facials and creating my own home spa experience. To be honest I mimic my daughter’s skincare routine or call her for advice on what to buy as she is ALWAYS researching the best skincare products. My personal go to face wash however is the Boscia Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser. I love that I can feel it working as it heats up on my skin.
I don’t stop with my face, however. My entire body gets love! This summer, I started using the newly formulated Dove Body Wash, made with their Moisture Renew Blend formula and I love it. The mix of skin-natural nutrients and a plant-based moisturizer helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier. Of course, being from the Caribbean I immediately tried the Glowing mango butter and almond butter variant and I recently started using the Dove Relaxing Body Wash with lavender oil and chamomile oil. Listennnnn, they smell and feel so good it’s like body heaven! My skin craves moisture so the first thing I do after a shower is moisturize. With the Dove Body Wash, however, I don’t have to. My skin feels soft and moisturized without lotion. I even tested it by going without lotion completely and it passed the ash test!
Exercise is also huge for me. I have been on and off the wagon since the gyms closed but that quarenFIFTEEN is real! I have had to make myself stay active for my physical and mental health and my zippers! At the beginning of the year I started a Virtual Workout Buddies group on Instagram where we share our workouts and hold each other accountable. Surely, we all won’t fall off the bandwagon all at once and there would always be someone saying, “letsssss gooooo!” For Q4 we decided to finish the year strong and commit to moving at minimum 15 minutes a day. Whether we walk, run, skip, do jumping jacks or some form of activity the idea is to keep moving! There’s still time and you are welcomed to join us!
Personally, I have been doing a lot of at home workouts from all the online trainers though one of my favorites is Massy Arias. She is so inspiring as a woman and mom and her training session are FIRE! I love outdoor running as well since you can’t quit midway. You must get back home! I feel a sense of accomplishment when I work out and every day I’m getting mentally and physically stronger. Added to that my clothes fit better!
For me however self-care goes way beyond facials and pedicures and is more of a three-pronged approach – skincare, exercise and most importantly mental-care. The pandemic and 2020 has schooled even the most resilient of us on the need to find balance, find the good, and just breathe. It’s okay as well to step back and take time away from the noise for you. Saying no to anything that disturbs your peace and equilibrium is a win.
And when we talk about self-care and loving the skin you’re in, this is where it all starts. We have to love ourselves, all of ourselves, even the broken pieces. Let’s face it. We all at some point in our lives have been broken and those scars are reminders, triggers sometimes and still hurt. I’ve shared with you before about my abuse as a child and the two little girls that make me strong, so I know about being broken and even at forty-six I still have triggers.
Self-love and self-confidence are not always easy but takes a conscious effort – sometimes daily – with mirror talks where you look self-doubt in the face and tell it, ‘you’re not winning today!
Instagram and social media will bait us into focusing on the external and the appearance of “perfect” but what about YOU, your heart, mind and soul. Are you taking care of your mental health?
Let’s remember to:
Work on our confidence.
Protect our peace at all cost.
Laugh hard…really hard!
Be patient with ourselves.
Be so, so kind to ourselves.
Reach back, and across.
Find our passion.
Love with abandon.
Feed our souls…
That girl behind the mirror deserves it.
What does selfcare mean to you? Do you make time for selfcare?
