For us, skincare is the biggest source of improving wellness asides from eating well, working out and educating your mind. We are all about exploring new products and trying out new ingredients in our routines... but wellness goes beyond the skin. When you're struggling with your mental health it's likely that the glow of your skin, the size of your pores and the number of wrinkles on your face isn't going to be your first priority and nor should it ever be in life.
We want to give you some advice on how to still be able to take care of your skin whilst your mental health needs more of your attention. For us it's about cutting out the decision making, keeping it budget friendly, taking out the pressure and having fun with it. Read on to see our tips on how to maintain a skincare routine when you're struggling with your mental health.
1. Keep it simple (cleanser, moisturiser, SPF)
If you're struggling with your mental health, it's possible that you may not be in the mood to get up at 4am every morning like Cassie from Euphoria. Whilst we're all for the long multi step skincare routines for a fun activity, we know this isn't always possible when you're potentially struggling with elements of your mental health like loneliness, the loss of a loved one or stress in work or your relationships.
Let's be real people - all you really need is to keep your skin clean, hydrated and protected... the rest is all fluff.
So one of our tips is to go back to basics. Use a cleanser than you love and works for your skin type - if you don't want to double cleanse then maybe go for a more intense cleanser. Use a moisturiser that's fast absorbing and provides the needed level of hydration for your skin and and sunscreen with a high SPF preferably 50+ so you don't have to feel as much pressure to reapply in the daytime dependant on where you are in the world. If you want a basic skincare routine that will keep your skin healthy with as little steps as possible, then this is all you need folks.
2. Don't go into any intense treatments like Retinol
When that 3am motivation strikes you to get your life sorted and have the glow up of the century, just take a minute to think first before spending your money on the latest retinol prescription.
This is something to think about even if you don't struggle with your mental health. Incorporating prescription strength skincare is no joke and requires consistency in order to achieve said desired goals. Be realistic with yourself - right now, do you have the capacity to invest your time (and effort) into spending the necessary time to do the necessary cleansing, moisturising, slugging, constant SPF reapplication etc.
If the answer is no, then don't feel ashamed. You can still maintain healthy skin with just the basics like we mentioned. You can start to add these more intense treatments when you're ready to take on the added responsibility to be consistent.
3. Only incorporate products which you enjoy and are within your budget
Added stress isn't what you need right now - and adding new products and investing lots of money into your routine is going to do nothing but add financial stress and pressure to try out the latest product launches - both of these factors are unlikely to help you or your skin.
Stick to products that you know, love and trust. If a product works with your skin and isn't going to break the bank then stick to this for now and explore the other stuff later.
4. Don't watch 'skinfluencer' content
We love 'skinfluencer' content - it's a great way to see the latest updates in the industry, find out about new ingredients, new products, reviews on potential purchases and the latest skincare gadgets. But right now, you may find this overwhelming. Social media in general has been proven to have a negative effect on our mental state when overused. Looking at the latest trends and thinking 'oh I don't have that' or 'oh I don't do that in my routine' is not what you need right now. So switch off and take out the extra elements of comparison in your life that come with 'skinfluencer' content and focus on gratitude for the things that you already have around you. The beauty community will always be there for you to come back to when you're ready for it ❤️
5. Go with a personalised skincare routine and cut out the stress of decision making
If you have the money then take out the decision making and go with a personalised skincare routine - there are loads of online dermatologist services where you can cater the number of steps you want, the types of ingredients you're after and the desired benefits from your routine. This way you don't have to worry about what you're using every time you go to your bathroom and whether it's right for your skin. All the guess work has been taken out for you.
The Takeaway
Don't get us wrong, we believe that a skincare routine that is both fun and beneficial is a great way to help benefit your mental health and wellbeing - but for some it can be a source of stress if you're not seeing the results you're after or if it feels like too much effort. What we want you take away from this is that there is no shame in whatever beauty practice you decide to take up as you're struggling with your mental health - if it works for you then that's all that matters.
For more support on your mental health or to learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month, visit the Mental Health Foundations Website
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