The Beauty Products That Help Soothe and Calm My Busy Mind
I have suffered from high-functioning anxiety for as long as I can remember. Anything from a chaotic work schedule to a last-minute cancellation of plans is enough to induce sleepless nights. It is therefore fair to say that over the last 20 or so years, I have dedicated a huge amount of time to finding small ways to help ease my anxiety, even just by a little.
And while by no means have I found a permanent solution, I have fine-tuned a number of rituals to help me deal and cope with everyday stresses. As a beauty editor, I’d go as far as to say that about 80% of my time is spent thinking about beauty products. There are lotions and potions virtually everywhere I look—each one needing to be tested and trialled. It makes sense, therefore, that beauty has a huge role to play when it comes to managing my anxieties.
It might seem a little surface-level at first, but it turns out that actually there is a huge amount of evidence that shows channelling some form of self-care through your beauty routine can have impressive emotional benefits, both through aroma and touch. Dr Tara Swart, neuroscientist and Aromatherapy Associates spokeswoman explains, "The connection between aroma and channelling the power of your brain is incredibly strong since the olfactory nerve connects the nose directly to the limbic system—the intuitive, emotional pathways of the brain. Triggering your olfactory system can alter your overall wellbeing in a positive manner both emotionally and physically.”
And it seems it’s not just scent that can help calm the mind. Kirsty Eaton, national trainer at Skin Regimen says, "The power of touch can reduce stress and anxiety even when massaging your own skin. Follow more of a mindful massage approach by slowing down and really experiencing the pleasing textures and sensations from applying your products.”
So without further ado, keep scrolling to discover some of the beauty products that I use for their soothing effects.
Blended with pink grapefruit, rosemary and juniper berry, for days when you struggle to get out of bed, this bath and shower oil proves to be the most mind-clearing of wake-up calls. Simply massage onto skin before your morning shower or add a splash to running bath water.
After a particularly anxiety-filled day, nothing helps prepare me for a stress-free night’s sleep quite like this lavender-scented bubble bath. More so than any other formula I’ve tried, the aroma is without any hint of artificial scent, proving itself to be far more relaxing and efficacious.
Next up, six simple morning rituals that can make you feel more productive.
Shannon Lawlor is the beauty director at Who What Wear UK. With over a decade of experience working for some of the beauty industry’s most esteemed titles, including Marie Claire, Glamour UK, Stylist and Refinery29, Shannon’s aim is to make the conversation around beauty as open, relatable and honest as possible. As a self-confessed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for hard-working perfumes, fool-proof makeup products and does-it-all skincare.
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