Journal

During the past 2 years, the world went into lockdown and inevitably experienced a collective deterioration in mental health and overall wellbeing. Constant insecurity increased fear and an increased fear creates stress on all levels. According to World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a staggering 25%.

Poor mental health leads to lower energy levels, which leads to less of an incentive to stick to self-care routines, including skincare routines. The sad reality is that this can become a negative feedback loop – the worse your mental health, the less energy you have, and the harder it is to stick to good habits. Habits that lift you up and bring about positive results. The skin is a good parameter of how well one is feeling. If your skin conditions worsen, you can be sure that some functions within are not in tune – as a consequence you might feel less confident, and with that said your mental health keeps worsening.

Now that we are nearing the end of this negative cycle and entering summer, it is hoped that collectively, we will see drastic improvements in our mental health. In the meantime, if you’re experiencing more mood swings then usual, maybe combined with a feeling of helplessness and a missing positive outlook during this difficult time, don’t wait for better things to come! Start improving your mental health and wellbeing by giving yourself a solid skincare routine that will make you feel more confident every time you walk out the door.

Here are 3 tips on how to maintain a skincare routine for improved mental health:

1. Stick to a Daily Simple Step

Find one skincare habit that is easy to accomplish, and make sure you stick to it at the same time every day. The act of sticking to a routine can seem mundane, but works wonders for your mental health. By creating routines, we organize our days in such a way that taking care of tasks and ourselves becomes a pattern that makes it easier to get things done without having to think hard about them. Sticking to routine is a great way to practice mindfulness, which has been shown to have vast benefits on mental health.

Once you get used to this step, it will become second nature to you and will require no energy at all. Eventually, you can build up to a routine that complements your skin fully. The recommended minimum is to wash your face and follow up with some moisture.

2. Pampering Yourself with Skincare Releases Good Chemicals

Don’t underestimate the impact of gently massaging skin with a warm washcloth to cleanse, taking extra time to smooth a silky moisturizer on your face, or applying a mask. The act of pampering yourself with good skincare actually releases chemicals in your brain that makes you happier.

According to scientists, anticipation of happy events releases feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain. Expecting positive events has also been shown to activate a certain area of the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with a sense of well-being, according to a study published in January 2018 in Frontiers in Psychology. It’s a natural little high for something so simple.

3. Use Warm Water to Start, and Cold Water to Finish

One reason why baths are so inherently calming is because of the way warm water naturally relaxes your muscles. Washing your face daily with warm water helps relax muscles that would otherwise be stiff and stressed from too much anxiety. The physical relaxation from warm water sends your brain the message that it’s time to be calm and mellow, reducing the fight-or-flight stress response.

Rinsing yourself with cold water after a warm wash not only helps close your pores, but also has many benefits for mental health. There is a reason many traditional Northern European countries love jumping into hot thermal baths, and then rinse themselves with cold water afterwards. Alternating between hot and cold water can strengthen your vasculature (veins and arteries) and therefore improve the integrity of your cardiovascular system. Additionally, it can help filter out toxins in the body because it stimulates constriction and subsequent relaxation of the blood vessels. It’s also been shown to help reduce the chemical cortisol in the brain – the chemical related to stress! Cold water actually interrupts business as usual and allows you to show up fully in the moment.

At JK7®, we place a lot of importance on holistic wellbeing and treating yourself with kindness. Pampering yourself with natural, organic goodness is a great way to boost your mood. The next time you feel down, why not treat yourself to some of our most popular products?

The JK7® 24H Cream Day & Night Face Care is perfect to implement into your day and nighttime ritual. Massaging a little bit every day after your favourite JK7® face wash to help provide a strong layer of protection against urban pollution and oxidative stress on your skin.

JK7® 24H Cream Day & Night Face Care

The JK7® 24H Cream Day & Night Face Care is perfect to implement into your day and nighttime ritual. Massaging a little bit every day after your favorite JK7® face wash to help provide a strong layer of protection against urban pollution and oxidative stress on your skin.

JK7® Detox Face Mask

The JK7® Detox Face Mask is another great way to pamper yourself and detox at the same time. It enhances the blood circulation through the skin and provides healthy, clear, and beautiful fresh skin. It is guaranteed to make you feel confident and beautiful. Use it as a special treat to look forward to each week.

JK7® Beauty Moisturizing Mist – Freshener – Pure Rose

Don’t underestimate the power of aromatherapy to boost your mood. The JK7® Beauty Moisturizing Mist – Freshener can be brought around with you everywhere you go. Give your face a little spray to help yourself relax, and to also hydrate your skin and balance your skin tone.

Listen to your mind and plan a routine that suits your style and values. Take small strides to improve your mental health, one step at a time. Follow the JK7® Journal to learn more about our philosophy behind our Hawaiian handmade, luxurious skincare products, and make use of how-to-guides and inspirational posts.