Hey friend! Welcome back to “Ask an Esti” – a forum where we discuss all things skincare! This week we’ll be discussing something special to me, both personally and professionally. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in addition to being a Licensed Esthetician, I’ve been a Licensed Master Social Worker for 7 years. I’ve worked with many different people and one thing that remains true regardless of population is the importance of taking care of self.
“Self-care” is a term that many of us have seen a lot more over the years with the growth of social media. It refers to dedicated time we give to ourselves to work toward being our healthiest and best selves. The beauty of it is that it can look like anything – reading, drawing, exercising, camping, therapy, and even completing a skincare routine. Literally anything! There are no rules, no stipulations, no criteria to meet. You simply do what works for you.
For some, that may be romanticizing your skincare routine. You’re likely the person who enjoys having a plethora of steps and no matter what, you refuse to miss a day. Your skincare routine is your time to mentally prepare for the day or decompress after a long day. You delight in everything from trying new products to figuring out how to apply and layer correctly. Skincare is your jam and jelly. It’s your chosen self-care activity.
Then there are those who may be a little more on the conservative side. You make sure to target your concerns, but you’re okay with skipping an occasional step or two, sometimes even a day. You like skincare and want your skin to be healthy, but it’s not at the top of your list of self-care priorities.
And there are some who like to keep it as minimal as possible. You prefer a 3-4 step routine that is easy to follow. You’ll commit to doing enough to keep your skin healthy, but you likely have many other things to focus on.
Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, know that you are doing it right! The thing that mental health care and skincare have in common is that there is no cookie cutter formula. We’re all different and we require different things. Something you’ll start to notice about me is that I believe very strongly in meeting people where they’re at – a core social work value. Ideally, I recommend having a morning and nighttime skincare routine that you follow faithfully. However, I recognize that reality may look a bit different for some of us, and yes, I mean us because I’m including myself in this.
We’re all doing the best that we can every day, and that deserves celebration. Every day may not be a good day, and that’s okay. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and may only have enough energy to cleanse and moisturize, that’s a win! If you only have enough energy to splash with cold water in the morning and apply SPF, that’s a win! If you simply cannot muster the energy to stand over the sink, you use a makeup wipe and go to sleep, that’s a win!
Hopefully you’re gathering that even when things don’t go exactly as planned, small victories still deserve celebration. My role as your virtual esthetician is to educate, encourage, and uplift you. Wherever you are on your skincare journey, it is my hope to continue helping you along. The goal is to have healthy skin that makes you look and feel good. I know firsthand how dealing with skin concerns can impact mental health, so I’m here to tell you that you’re doing amazing! You’re giving your best, and your best is damn good.
Take care of yourself on your journey to healthy skin. Keep going. Keep trying. Keep persevering. I’m rooting for you! Until next time, remember, Healthy skin starts with Superfoods!
If you have additional questions and would like to chat through your skincare routine, please book a Skin Session here.
“Self-care” is a term that many of us have seen a lot more over the years with the growth of social media. It refers to dedicated time we give to ourselves to work toward being our healthiest and best selves. The beauty of it is that it can look like anything – reading, drawing, exercising, camping, therapy, and even completing a skincare routine. Literally anything! There are no rules, no stipulations, no criteria to meet. You simply do what works for you.
For some, that may be romanticizing your skincare routine. You’re likely the person who enjoys having a plethora of steps and no matter what, you refuse to miss a day. Your skincare routine is your time to mentally prepare for the day or decompress after a long day. You delight in everything from trying new products to figuring out how to apply and layer correctly. Skincare is your jam and jelly. It’s your chosen self-care activity.
Then there are those who may be a little more on the conservative side. You make sure to target your concerns, but you’re okay with skipping an occasional step or two, sometimes even a day. You like skincare and want your skin to be healthy, but it’s not at the top of your list of self-care priorities.
And there are some who like to keep it as minimal as possible. You prefer a 3-4 step routine that is easy to follow. You’ll commit to doing enough to keep your skin healthy, but you likely have many other things to focus on.
Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, know that you are doing it right! The thing that mental health care and skincare have in common is that there is no cookie cutter formula. We’re all different and we require different things. Something you’ll start to notice about me is that I believe very strongly in meeting people where they’re at – a core social work value. Ideally, I recommend having a morning and nighttime skincare routine that you follow faithfully. However, I recognize that reality may look a bit different for some of us, and yes, I mean us because I’m including myself in this.
We’re all doing the best that we can every day, and that deserves celebration. Every day may not be a good day, and that’s okay. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and may only have enough energy to cleanse and moisturize, that’s a win! If you only have enough energy to splash with cold water in the morning and apply SPF, that’s a win! If you simply cannot muster the energy to stand over the sink, you use a makeup wipe and go to sleep, that’s a win!
Hopefully you’re gathering that even when things don’t go exactly as planned, small victories still deserve celebration. My role as your virtual esthetician is to educate, encourage, and uplift you. Wherever you are on your skincare journey, it is my hope to continue helping you along. The goal is to have healthy skin that makes you look and feel good. I know firsthand how dealing with skin concerns can impact mental health, so I’m here to tell you that you’re doing amazing! You’re giving your best, and your best is damn good.
Take care of yourself on your journey to healthy skin. Keep going. Keep trying. Keep persevering. I’m rooting for you! Until next time, remember, Healthy skin starts with Superfoods!
If you have additional questions and would like to chat through your skincare routine, please book a Skin Session here.
