Happy New Year!
I’m so elated to be returning after a short hiatus. I’m in my wintering era and trying to connect with my vitality by leaning into the season and not expecting myself to perform in this yin season like I would at the height of early summer. I invite you to do the same. In my next article, I will discuss cultivating a more positive relationship with WInter; I think this is a key foundational element. Giving yourself permission to winter.
Today, I want to talk about a topic that is one of the most asked questions I get:
How do I implement a face massage routine and make it stick?
(also, if you stick around until the end of this piece, you will see an exciting announcement about two new products I am releasing, and I’m telling you, my faithful readers, about them before anyone else)!
One of my favorite books I read last year was The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. This book explores the science behind habits and how they can be changed. The book suggests a basic framework for building habits that you can stick to, known as the habit loop. It is not quite the same as Atomic Habits by James Clear, (which is what I expected it to be). In The Power of Habit, Duhigg gets more into the neurological and psychological aspects of habits, emphasizing the habit loop. In Atomic Habits, Clear offers practical strategies centered around tiny habits and the power of identity. Both books are fantastic!
What I loved about The Power of Habit was the storytelling.
It was filled with captivating case studies, like how brushing your teeth became a collective habit because, in the 1920s, Pepsodent introduced the reward of feeling a minty fresh mouth to get people to use their toothpaste over and over. Or, how Febreeze almost failed before it even hit shelves until it captured the trigger and reward that caused people to want to use it repeatedly. (Although, side note- if you care about your hormonal health at all, please don’t use Febreeze). As I said, it was one of my favorite books I read last year, and I highly recommend giving it a read.
I understand that not everyone will dive into the book, so I'm eager to share my key insights and how you can apply them to cultivate a consistent facial massage routine.
By incorporating these takeaways, you can embrace a habit that promotes vibrancy and improves your skin, all without succumbing to the allure of facial injections if you want to avoid them.
My biggest takeaway was the steps that the book outlines to creating a habit that sticks, which are:
Identify the Cue: Pay attention to the cues or triggers that initiate the habit loop. Understand what prompts the behavior you want to establish.
Define the Routine: Clearly outline the behavior or routine you want to make a habit. Be specific about what you want to achieve.
Establish the Reward: Determine a positive and satisfying reward that follows the behavior. This helps reinforce the habit loop and makes you more likely to repeat the behavior in the future.
Experiment and Adjust: If a habit isn't sticking, experiment with different cues, routines, and rewards until you find a combination that works for you. Habits are malleable, and you can modify them to suit your needs better.
Be Consistent: Repetition is key to forming a habit. Consistently follow the habit loop, and the behavior will become more automatic over time.
Let's use the habit-building template to outline how to build a facial massage routine into a habit effectively:
Identify the Cue/Trigger:
Time-Based Cue: Choose specific days and times for your facial massage routine, such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings after dinner.
Preceding Activity Cue: Link the facial massage routine to another activity, like after cleansing your face or winding down before bedtime.
Define the Routine:
Outline the steps of your facial massage routine. This might include using your favorite massage oil, working with your favorite facial tool, and paying attention to tension points.
Consider including relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, or a playlist like this one as part of the routine.
Establish the Reward:
Enjoyable Activity: Plan to engage in a pleasurable activity after your massage session. It could be something like enjoying a cup of your favorite or tea, applying a serum or hydrosol that you really love the smell of, even if its just the massage oil that you incorporate, use one that smells really good and imagine it nourishing your skin cells- this type of treat for yourself can work as a reward.
Mindfulness or Meditation: Use the time after your massage session for a brief mindfulness or meditation session. This can serve as a calming and centering reward, promoting a positive association with your massage habit.
Reading Time: Allow yourself some dedicated time to read a book or article that you enjoy. This can be a great way to unwind and relax after your facial massage.
Experiment and Adjust:
Be open to trying different massage techniques and adjusting the routine based on what feels most comfortable and enjoyable for you.
If the routine takes too much time, consider streamlining it while still achieving the desired effects. (I tried this by doing face cupping at the same time as oil pulling in the morning).
Be Consistent:
Stick to the chosen days and times for your facial massage routine. Consistency is critical to forming a habit.
Consider setting a recurring reminder or alarm on the designated days to reinforce the habit.
Bonus: Create a Relaxing Environment
Enhance the experience by creating a relaxing environment. Use soft lighting (bee’s wax candles are my favorite), play soothing music, or consider incorporating aromatherapy to make the routine more enjoyable.
By incorporating these elements into your facial massage routine, you can turn it into a habit you'll be more likely to stick to three days a week.
I would love for you to share what you are doing to implement this habit!
Okay, you made it this far, so I want to share with you that a manifestation that has been several years in the making has finally come to fruition. The SKIN | EARTH | VITALITY line of Stratum Aesthetics facial tools is dropping today.
The inaugural products of my line are:
SKIN|EARTH|VITALITY Gua Sha Stone
and
SKIN|EARTH|VITALITY Facial Cups
Both are in stock now on the website!