During These Tough Times, This Is How Skincare Becomes Self-Care for Me

Don't let anyone make you feel vain, frivolous, or guilty. In times of high anxiety, that's when skincare as self-care becomes even more important.

I've written before about turning to skincare in times in high anxiety, and this time is no different. With increasingly scary news flooding our inboxes, feeds, and streams, it's hard not to be an anxious mess. In my city, all the schools have closed, my husband and I have been ordered to work remotely, and as a high-risk household, we are practicing complete isolation. Thankfully, my old friend skincare has been here to ease my anxiety. For those minutes spent centering myself with my ritual, I am calm, however briefly, and it's totally worth it.

Along with the usual emergency prep, I made sure to order my favorite skincare products I was running low on. Call it stupid, call it vain — I call it self-care, and my mental health agrees.

As boredom and the tedium of self-isolation set in, I decided to set some small goals for myself to make the most of my time cooped up in our small city home. I vowed to read more quality content (books instead of gossip sites), make sure to do some small exercises to make up for the lack of walking I'd be doing, and to baby my skin like the superstar protective organ it is.

Honestly, if you've ever felt guilty about your skincare routine, now is the time to put it to rest once and for all. Skincare IS self-care, and self-care leads to better moods, reduced anxiety, stronger resilience, and an overall happier you. And listen, if your skincare steps get you there, don't let anyone tell you anything any different. The world seems out of control right now, and if a sheet mask makes you feel a little better within yourself and in that moment, who is anyone to begrudge you? If painting your nails makes you breathe a little easier for a minute, break out that paint, baby!

We are going to get through this, and we're going to emerge that much more thankful for the little things. Now's the time to explore yourself, take stock of everything, get rid of anything that doesn't work for you, and cherish the things that do. For me? That's my family, my pets, my work, and yes, my skincare.

The following is my morning ritual:

* Wakeup, kiss everyone good morning.

* Turn on a soothing (or funny) podcast

* Head to the bathroom

* Mix my vitamin C powder with my SanDaWha toner and apply

* Smooth on my serum du jour

* Pick out my sheet mask for the morning and apply

* Massage over my mask with my jade roller while listening to whatever podcast

* Massage in oil

* Apply emulsion

* Smooth on my cream to seal it all in

Sounds like a pretty blasé skincare routine, right? Like the hundreds of others you've read about before. But for me, it's so much more. By the end of all this, I feel like I'm more prepared mentally for my day. Like a little Zen meditation session to set a calming tone until I repeat it all over again that night.

I'm not saying it works for everyone, and I'm sure lots of people might roll their eyes at me, but if you're feeling upset or anxious in these trying times, it can't hurt to throw yourself a little love, whichever way works for you. Like I said, we're going to get through this, and some of us might even emerge from our anxiety cocoons with a little extra glow — along with some hope for the future.

How are you taking care of yourself during these turbulent times? Do you turn to skincare as self-care? Share how you're feeling and any tips that might help others!