As you all know, I LOVE self-care.  And, as a retired esthetician, I also love beauty! The two together can go hand in hand and I would love to share with you 3 things that I am doing regularly to honour these pursuits.

Last year, over the Christmas holidays, I completed my AromaTouch training with doTERRA. One of the greatest gifts as a result of that training is my new practice of showing my feet a little love each day in the form of a quick massage after my shower. 

Our dear feet – they carry us through the world each day tirelessly (or maybe tiredly!).  Yet they are often neglected – unless perhaps we go and treat ourselves to a pedicure – and even pedicures these days are more for appearance and beauty than nourishment and health.  The massage aspect of them are usually limited to a few brisk strokes and rubs, often done by a distracted practitioner. 

However, we can take our feet into our own hands – quite literally! 

Also at Christmas this year, I was delighted to open a gift box from my sister filled with goodies from a BC company called The Good Witch Soaps.  Included in this box was a small container of Dandelion Foot Cream – a beautiful bright yellow concoction of moisturizing bliss!  I love anything dandelion so this was a perfect gift. 

This cream coupled with my new knowledge from AromaTouch training of how vital our feet are to our wellbeing (think of reflexology and acupuncture that say an entire map of our body can be found on the feet), inspired me to incorporate a quick daily massage to these darling toes!

This can take two minutes or ten minutes.  It can be sensual or invigorating.  And to optimize this practice, add a few drops of CPTG (Certified Pure Tested Grade) oils to your cream or body oil.  My two favorites that I alternate are Frankincense and a doTERRA blend called Balance (very woodsy scented and grounding). 

There is no particular way to massage your feet except to do what feels good!  Also, try and pay attention to the entire foot.  Massage each of your toes, in between your toes, your heels, the tops of your feet, and all over the bottom of each foot.

It’s a great way to start your day and let your body know – hey, I love and appreciate you – thanks for all you do!  Last tip – have your socks or slippers handy so you don’t get cream or oil on the floor.

My next practice is a weekly facial mask.  A good quality facial mask is a great investment to your skin care routine.  You can target whatever result you desire – pore tightening, anti-aging, moisturizing, clarifying, detoxifying, nourishing … there are so many masks available!  My two favorite masks at the moment are Éminence Bamboo Age Corrective Masque and doTERRA Clarifying Mud Mask, a mud mask infused with essential oils, earth clays, minerals, and nourishing botanicals.  The mud mask can be especially useful in the pre-menstrual phase of your cycle. 

There are also some great DIY recipes online for homemade masks using natural ingredients like yogurt, honey, avocado, and other fruits.  Have fun!

Lastly, I highly recommend dry brushing your skin and incorporating a body oil afterward to replenish and nourish your skin after bathing.  Dry brushing not only removes dead skin (leaving your skin looking brighter and absorbing moisture better) but it also encourages lymph to flow and increases blood circulation.  Invest in a quality brush – you do not want synthetic materials or anything too abrasive on your skin.  Always drybrush in an upward motion toward your heart.  Once or twice a week is sufficient for this practice.

After you’ve dry brushed and showered or bathed, follow this with a nourishing oil such as almond, jojoba, or for a real treat, doTERRA Yarrow|Pom Body Renewal Serum, a synergy of Yarrow essential oil and cold-pressed Pomegranate seed oil.  Gorgeous. 

Did you know that our skin is the biggest organ of the body? It is the housing of our essence; body, mind, and spirit.  When we can intentionally use practices such as the ones I’ve mentioned, it is showing gratitude to our temples, our physical bodies, our skin.  I do love the hashtag #goddessselfcare as this really is what we are doing. 

I hope these practices have inspired you to incorporate some – or all of them to your self-care regime!  As always, I am happy to help – if you have any questions, please reach out.

Blessings to you as you remember your strength, beauty, and inner light.

Meriah Theresa