Favourite part of skincare

@Emily I love combining my bath time with a skincare mask—it is the ultimate way to create an at-home spa day. The passive steam from the warm water naturally coaxes my pores open, making my skin incredibly receptive to the treatment. Since I *usually * have normal skin, I get to switch things up depending on my goals: I use an enzyme mask for a quick radiance boost, a kaolin clay mask to deep clean my pores, or a honey cream mask for intense hydration. My routine is quick and seamless. I always wash my face at the sink first so I’m not trapping dirt, apply the mask, and then sink into a warm, relaxing soak for about 15 minutes while the steam locks in the ingredients. Before I get out, I gently wipe the mask off with a damp washcloth so it doesn't over-dry. As soon as I step out, I lock in that fresh glow with my favorite moisturizer. It's my three times a week relax!

I like the prepping aspect of it: in the morning I prep myself for the day ahead and in the evening I wash it all off and use different products to prepare my skin for the night. Feels like self-care to me, taking 10 minutes for myself

@Emily, Thank for this prompt! I really love a hot bath with scented salts, etc. They are relaxing mentally. But usually I do not feel well afterward, whether that's from heat sensitivity, the hard water, or something else. So, I guess baths are more of a sweet treat like cake. Tasty, but within limits. Transitioning to foot baths has helped, as you know, from my extensive spa collection, lol. I do not enjoy "maintenance" skincare as much. Like tweezing or using a pack mask. That feels like work. So I think my favorite part of skincare is the daily AM/PM routine, especially when it's making my skin feel better. I love how the Skin Log on this site provides that visual reference and then feedback. It's satisfying to feel like, "Yes! I'm figuring it out!" even if it's figuring out what doesn't work. That put's me one ingredient or one formula closer to having healthier skin with fewer days in lobster jail. Which is no small thing for those of us who battle skin issues every day, whether that's redness, painful dryness and ezcema, acne breakouts, vitiligo, etc. It's a whole spectrum but we all just want to feel good in our skin. My neurotype doesn't form habits. Autopilot doesn't really exist for me. Instead, I rely on simple, repeatable, reliable steps to feel calm and successful. Cleansing, hydrating, moisturizing -- these are basic steps I can follow and almost feel on autopilot. The only danger is when I let my mind wander and then I'm brushing my teeth with moisturizer. 🙊