The Importance of Relaxation

Now that I am done with all my exams for this semester, I can't shake the feeling that I still have something to do, have somewhere to be. I think this feeling of restlessness is familar to a lot of people. We are always in the middle of something, our minds always racing about jobs and exams. But way too often we ignore this feeling of constant anxiety and strain and just get used to it until it is a part of us. One thing I learned over the years is that we have to stop and just take a little time to take care of ourselves, once in a while. We have to switch our powerbuttons off to allow our minds and bodies to refuel and recharge. I think everyboy has their own ways of coming down after a busy and stressfull day or week. But for those who simply can't relax for the love of god I want to share my realxing routine and maybe inspire some of your relaxing techniques.

The first thing that has become my go-to when it comes to winding down is meditation. The whole point of meditation is to stop your racing mind and concentrate on your breathing. This helps you to pause the situation you are in and ultimately realx. One thing I noticed right after getting into meditation is that it also shows you how tense you really are. Your body stores stress all over your muscles. Especially in your shoulders and jaw.  To take a moment to breathe and just notice how you are feeling without trying to change it can go a long way relaxation-wise. Of course you can meditate  without any help but I find it quite hard to switch off without a guided meditation. That's why I downloaded the Calm app. The app as well as the book that goes along with it are concepted by Michael Acton Smith. There is also a website where you can also do a seven day trial on the meditations. After the seven days you will have to pay for your full membership. For those asking themselves if this is worth the money I can honestly say: It is! The membership unlocks so many great features in the app. There are hundreds of meditations for every situation and they are always adding new ones. You can improve your sleep over a weeks course, calm your anxiety, learn gratitude and so much more.

you can dowload the app for iOS on the App Store

The app also tracks your progress and helps you to continue your meditations with a daily reminder. It just is an amazing app. The book also holds many techniques and strategies to improve your midnfullness. It is beautifully designed and actually just calms you by flicking through it.

Another way to unwind after a stressfull day is taking care of your body. Have a good old pamper. Nothing lifts my mood as much as a hot bath with lighted candles all around me, a good face mask slapped on my face and a TV-series playing on Netflix while I soak in the water. The great thing about baths is that you can't take your phone. At least I don't, because I'm afraid of dropping it in the tub. I love my phone. If I could I would hold on to it 24/7. Yeah, well actually I do but sometimes I just want my peace and quiet. No messages, emails, and reminders that come in on a minutely basis. In the bath it's just good old me and Netflix. A digital detox is very important as we constantly are on our phones and laptops, always replying to something.

After my bath I like to get into my most cozy socks, put on the kettle and drink a cup of tea while reading a good book or continue watching Netflix. My feel-good programms on there are Gossip Girl and Gilmore Girls. I just realize that they both have the initials GG and am blown away by this fact. For times I also need a little cheer-me-up I watch either Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt or New Girl (there are too many TV programms with a "girl" in it).
Another way of relaxing I recently discovered for me is colouring. Our stores has been overswept with adult colouring books and I love it.

I bought the Lost Ocean one for myself and got the Vogue Colouring Book for my birthday. Lost Ocean speaks to my love for the little mermaid and the Vogue one to my love of fashion. But it isn't really the point what you are colouring just that you do. There is nothing that can keep me from overthinking as much as colouring. It also takes you right back into your childhood which is always a good thing. No wonder kids do not have a worry in the world, they got all the good stuff.

I hope I could inspire some of you to overthink your busy lifestyles and unwind today.

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My Skincare Routine

When I was in my teens, I did not really care much for skincare. I commited to taking my make up off with a cotton pad and that was basically it. At some point I even convinced myself, that not taking my make up off once in a while could probably be beneficial to my skin (why I thought that and on which facts I rested this thesis, I don't know but: oh well, those akward teenage logics). But after engaging in watching Yotube videos and reading Beauty Blogs, I befriended the idea of taking more care of my skin. And that is the beginning of a love story. Ever since I could not find any greater pleasure than strolling through drugstores and more higher-end retailers to find not only foundations and highlighters which were out of this world but the perfect skincare products for me and my skin. I was infatuated with the smells and textures of creams and cleansers and still are tbh. But I soon realized that not every product I was recommened to on Youtube was for me. It takes a while to find a skincare routine that does't let you break out or irritates your skin rather than benefit it and give it that desirable glow. Even though I like to try and mix up my routine once in a while, I never completely change it and always go back to my trusty favourites. Another realization I had was that not always the higher-end products are the best, even though I like to treat myself to a ridiculous expensive cream, I do not underrestimate drugstore products at all.


First of: Make Up Removers.
There is quite a hype around micellar waters and I think they are worth the hype. I never tried the Bioderma ones but these drugstore options from Garnier do their jobs really well anyway, so why spend double the price? You can use the usual micellar water for your face and eyes, anyway I like to have the seperate waterproof one for taking off my eye-makeup. It contains oil and is much more gentle to the eyes and gets mascara off with much less effort.

For Cleansers:  Even though commercials say you don't need any other way of removing your make up, every girl that ever swept a cotton bud over her face right after the first cleanse knows this is a lie. There are just too many remains of dirt, make up and sweat in your pores that the first cleanse just doesn't get to. In the Morning I use a Nivea one, just to get remains from my night cream off and to wake me up. It smells amazing and really preps your skin for anything that is to come in the morning. In the evenings I need something more heavy duty. The Body Shop gets skincare just so right and is really affordable. I am in love with most of their products and ranges for different skin types. Since my skin is prone to getting oily I use the Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser for combination skin. It really gets the job done and leaves no remains on your face, leaving you with that fresh face feeling everyone loves (at least I love it). 

Following Cleanser I get to toners. I never really understood the importance of toners until I discovered Caroline Hiron's Blog. Since then I've been obsessed. In the morning I use a the Aloe Calming Toner also from The Body Shop. My face and especially my nose, tend to get red after confronting it with warm water so before applying Make up I like to get rid of that redness and that's exactly what this toner does. It calms the skin immediately and it also smells super fresh, which is always a plus for me. In the evenings I want a toner that also gently exfoliates, tightens my skin and gives me a glow in the next day. The Pixi Glow Tonic is really a holy grail product, that does all the things Beauty Bloggers promise. It is just beyond words. Just buy it. 

Following toners I love to use a facial spray . It boosts the skin with moisture and actually it's just nice to spray your face with water, feeling like a model at a shoot. I vary between the Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist which smells like roses and the good old classic Evian Spray. It's just water really - can't go wrong there.

For moisturizers I have to admit that I'm not a fan of the drugstore variety in Germany. It really needs an upgrade. So I usally buy higher end moisturizers. I swear by everything that is Origins. The products are just great quality and worth their price. The GinZeng Energy-Boosting Moisturizer does everything its name says. It wakes up my skin, it is'nt heavy on it so it is perfect for under foundation and gives it a kick of energy and moisture. When I leave the house, which I do most days, I also apply SPF. Finding a SPF is a quest I found quite hard. Most SPF's are really heavy and make your skin look greasy and feel sticky. The Vichy Idéal Soleil Bronze Gel Fluid with SPF 30 has a really nice consistency, is neither sticky nor greasy. And as a bonus it promises to activate the melatonin production in your skin cells, to help you get tanned. In the evening I like to use a heavy cream which does't soak in immediatley and lets my skin drink up over night. The Clinque Moisture Surge Intense Gel is amazing for just that. It makes my skin feel super hydrated and plump in the morning.

One last thing I like to do, not daily but once or twice a week is a face mask. And I have to say I do not really experiment in that department because I found my holy grail a while ago. The Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. I just love this stuff. If I'm having a bad skin week this immediately improves the look and feel of my skin and gets rid of any kind of impurities.

This routine may seem a bit intense for some people but your skin will thank you when you found your perfect routine and also your future self will probably thank you too because you'll look like a fresh peach at the age of 40.

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