Skincare & Magic, Pt. 1: Routine
it's the physical barrier between the outside world and your inside person. think we underutilize the largest organ we have in our magical workings. in this mini-series, i wish to highlight how you can incorporate skincare into your magical workings!
what should your skincare routine look like?⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
there are a lot of trendy skincare routines that will ask you to use 20 different high-end products twice a day for the rest of your life. this is, in 99% of cases, entirely unnecessary and perhaps even harmful to your skin!
your skin can only absorb so much before the benefits stop and the product build-up starts. using too many products in your routine can increase risk of irritation, and allergic reaction. also, if you have an hour long skincare routine with a million steps, you're less likely to be consistent, and consistency is key! think about it: after a long day, would you rather a) collapse into your bed or b) spend about one hour standing in your restroom washing your face 12 times?
so, what should actually be in your skincare routine?
generally, your daily skincare routine shouldn't exceed these 5 steps:
problem targeting treatments
let's take a look at each of these steps and how we can add our own magical enhancements!
throughout the day sweat, dirt, oil, and miscellaneous gunk builds up on your skin. so, before anything can start we must clean our face! a good facial cleanser will remove buildup, creating a nice, fresh canvas for the rest of your skincare.
while we're cleaning grime of your face, you might as well cleanse yourself of negative spiritual energies!
just like cleansing an object with water or performing a self-cleanse in the shower, as you apply your facial cleanser of choice try to focus your intention on cleansing!
cleansing can be pretty harsh on your skin, but it is still important to cleanse. so, to help soothe potential inflammation that can be the result of cleansing, a toner is perfect! toners can also help remove some of the grime that may have been missed by your cleanser, too.
though, the primary purpose of toner is to rebalance your skin's pH level. a lot of cleansers will increase your skin's pH, and so the goal of using a toner is to bring that pH back down a bit.
magically, toner could serve to represent balance.
as you apply your toner, think about some aspects in your life that you wish to balance out. is work taking too much of your time, and your social life is suffering? or maybe you want to spend less time on your phone and more time doing more IRL hobbies. whatever it maybe, focus the time you apply your toner on bringing balance into the areas of your life that you need it.
3. problem targeting treatments!
skin has problems ૮ ◞ ﻌ ◟ ა
this is the time in your routine that you intentionally treat the issues of your skin. this part is why everyone will have a different routine! for example, i have dark circles under my eyes, so i use an eye cream. if you don't have any bags or dark circles, you don't need to use eye creams (even if your favorite influencer tells you to). this is the part where we target specific issues and heal them.
so, while you heal your skin, consider using this as an opportunity to cast a healing spell!
for me, this looks like drawing a tiny health sigil under my left eye in the eye cream i use before rubbing the cream in. i chose my left eye, as it's my weakest eye!
everyone should use a nice moisturizer. it makes your skin... moist!
really, though, this is the best step because of how GOOD it feels! a nice, cooling moisturizer feels so soothing and relaxing. it's the sprinkle on top of any skincare routine, and is such a simple way to spoil yourself a bit.
this is an excellent time to cast a spell to encourage happiness!
that can mean many things. for me, when i apply moisturizer in the morning i'll focus my intention on beauty, as i feel happy when i feel beautiful. then, when i apply moisturizer before bed i'll focus my intention on relaxation, as i feel happy when i'm relaxed in bed! this step is very customizable.
in the morning, you absolutely must apply sunscreen. even on a cloudy day, even in winter, even if your only outing for the day is a trip to the store. UV rays won't just get you when you're swimming in the summer or spending hours gardening! don't worry, though. you can skip this step at night!
and, while we protect ourselves from skin cancer, let's also protect ourselves with a protection spell!
initially, i would draw a protection sigil on my cheek with the sunscreen before rubbing it in, but then i realized this was preventing me from getting an even coverage. so now, i rub my sunscreen on like normal, while envisioning it like it's a piece of armor. like, i literally think of a knight's helmet when i apply my sunscreen (..◜ᴗ◝..)
