How Your Beauty Routine Can Make You Feel Good

“Your beauty routine should always spark joy. Whether it’s through texture, smell, packaging or, most importantly, efficacy,” says Votary co-founder Arabella Preston. “This is why finishing touches, like a super-glowy day cream, are often the last step in my morning routine.” Juicy-looking skin is often achieved with a clever layering of ingredients, such as crowd-pleasing hyaluronic acid and brightening vitamin C. Finish off with a light-textured day cream and a luminous SPF for supple radiance.

Multitasking with beauty products is nothing new, but a beauty regimen that uses natural ingredients is a wholesome way of combining beauty and nature. And with Costa Brazil, you can introduce all the goodness of the Amazon rainforest into your routine (think body oils enriched with babassu and Brazil nut and bath soaks made from Brazilian white clay) while knowing the brand works in partnership with local cooperatives to contribute towards the restoration and conservation of the rainforest. Another beauty brand worth mentioning is Vapour Beauty. Born in Taos, New Mexico, the company operates from a solar-powered hub in the desert, creating high-performance cosmetics, most of which are waterless. What’s more, it also gives back by supporting local water sources, rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands – a 360-degree hit of beauty happiness.

Sick and tired of looking sick or tired? The quickest and most effective way to hack your way to happy-looking skin is with a dab of joy-inducing blush. Skip the brushes and opt for a cream formula to mimic your natural skin texture. “Cream blushes are great multitaskers for adding a pop of color to eyes, cheeks and lips,” says Gucci Westman, founder of Westman Atelier. “Dab it in an oval shape in the middle of your cheekbone for a healthy flush.” A rosy hue works for paler skin, and bright, rich-pigmented shades, such as plum or violet, enhance the flush of deeper skin tones.

Topping up your in-clinic treatments with at-home practices is a good way to enhance the effects of professional services, such as lifting and de-puffing, and can quell stress-induced tension held in your jaw and neck. Incorporating gua sha into your routine is a good way to start. Pair with a facial oil at night and apply a gentle touch to ease facial tightness and drain the lymphatic system for instant lifting. “Always use very light, feather-like pressure,” says FaceGym founder Inge Theron. “The lymph in the face is very superficial, so applying too much pressure could bypass the system and not drain fully. Start with the neck, using downward strokes, then on to the cheeks and forehead using outward and downward strokes.”

Dancing, walking, running, spinning – by the end of the year, our feet have often taken a big hit. Settle in one evening with a foot bath to soak away any aches and pains and lift your mood from the sole up. After you’ve soaked, gently pat dry and apply a thick body balm or foot cream, before sliding on a pair of luxurious cashmere socks. The Susanne Kaufmann Nourishing Herbal Whey Bath includes calming chamomile, so it’s the perfect antidote to a demanding day and stressed-out feet. If your skin is on the drier side, mix your cream with a body oil to lock moisture in.

Regardless of length and texture, nothing adds a finishing touch to a hairstyle quite like an accessory. It’s a universal way to add a sprinkle of fun to a look. If your hair has been blow-dried straight or wavy, hair slides in bright colors are a great addition – a clip-on around the temple creates the most modern style. As for curly and textured hair, if you’re scooping your hair up into an up-do, ribbons and scrunchies are a great add-on that is trend-led without looking twee.