2025 Skincare Check-In Challenge: LAST Week! - Don't forget hand + foot care

[TeamBIC]

Happy New Year, BIC! ✨ We’re stepping into 2025 with a crucial reminder: we must take special care of ourselves — this year and EVERY year. Some of us may already have set resolutions and/or stellar routines nailed down; regardless of where you are on your self-care journey, we could all use a few extra nudges and motivation to spend some extra time on ourselves! 🤝

Much like posts from previous years, we’ve come up with a list of weekly prompts to challenge you to strut your self-care skills. 💗 This time around we’ll be focused on all things skincare, because when our skin feels good, we feel GEWD. 🌟 We encourage you to participate and respond to the prompts that inspire you – and don’t be shy to share any other self-care tips and tricks along the way!

Week 1 (1/8 – 1/14): Curating the perfect rise and glow ☀ skincare routine to kick off your day 

Week 2 (1/15 – 1/21): Relaxing in your favorite face/eye mask(s)

Week 3 (1/22 – 1/28): Trying out tools to promote wellness (rollers, high tech tools, DIY massage . . .)

Week 4 (1/29 – 2/4): Adding some extra indulgence to your body care (baths, butters, oils, scrubs etc.) 🛀

Week 5 (2/5 – 2/11): Washing your makeup brushes, towels, pillowcases, etc. — whatever touches your GORG face 😘

Week 6 (2/12 – 2/18): Stimulating your scalp with treatments/serums (yes, this is skincare too!)

Week 7 (2/19 – 2/25): Sharing your favorite jumbo or refillable skincare goodies to get the best bang for your buck 🤑

Week 8 (2/26 – 3/4): Giving your hands and feet some extra love (masks, creams, exfoliants, etc.)

Hit the “Reply” button below and let us know how you are practicing self-skincare! 😍 Be sure to use the “#” to tag any products mentioned in your answers, if applicable.

[SportyGirly125]

@peculiarzmakeup Thank you 

[itsfi]

Week 3 (1/22 – 1/28): Trying out tools to promote wellness (rollers, high tech tools, DIY massage . . .)

Product Details:

Spoiler

• Skincare Tool - My first face roller was gifted to me from a very lovely BIC member - it was a dual ended white quartz face roller that I used often when I used a sheet mask, which back then, was very often. This SEPHORA COLLECTION Mini Blue Aventurine De-Puffing Facial Roller is great for travel. I still use face rollers when I sheet mask, including with this 2-piece one from the Sephora Collection - SEPHORA COLLECTION Booster Face Mask Soothe + Hydrating 1 mask / pack  - I like to use the roller to press the serum into my skin, as well as to help with reduce puffiness, getting in a mini face massages along with  some lymphatic drainage, and to just get in a little moment of "me" time. 

• Hair & Body Tools - scalp massagers like the BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Scalp-Thingy: Scalp Massager are great for sloughing away dead skin and dry flakes at the scalp, working product like the Briogeo hair mask through my hair, and giving my head and scalp a massage.

• Shower scarves (or exfoliating wash cloths) like this one from Hanni (available directly from the brand) are great for cleansing and exfoliating the entire body. This one came with a set of Hanni products but you can find similar ones on amazon. I have become less limber and flexible as I age and I love how this makes it easy to wash and exfoliating that middle part of my back that I just can't reach, no matter how hard I try. 😅

• DIY wellness + aromatherapy tools - pictured are some tools for wellness from the inside out along with a couple aromatherapy treats to create a relaxing or calming mood.

            VOLUSPA Goji & Tarocco Orange Glass Jar Candle - this was part of last year's VOLUSPA 12 Day Candle Advent Calendar - I open a new one every month or when I've finished with the previous month's candle, whichever comes first. Candles can provide some aromatherapy and this one has a fruity but not overly fruity scent to it.

           Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Stop & Soothe Aromatherapy Pen 0.16 oz / 5 mL is a tried-and-true favorite. The lavendar and peppermint combo works well and provides an extra sense of soothing comfort when I take in the scent.

           Hydration is an important tool for keeping and maintining our skin (and our bodies) healthy. While my 'breakfast wine' of choice 😅 is usually coffee, I've been drinking warm water with lemon, turmeric and ginger in the winter to help up / maintain my water intake. Adding some lemon slices to a bottle of water is also  something I've been doing to keep hydrated. I know not everyone likes the taste of water; I don't mind it, but I also do like adding a little something extra to my water every now and again, be it slices of lemon or other fruits, or sprigs of thyme (or both).

          Other tools that have been effective for me in promoting and maintaining wellness include journaling, listening to music, exercising, engaging in self-care activities via theWellness In Progress: January 2025 thread that is currently active.

• Well-aging tools - I'm getting older - it's gonna keep happening 😆 but I'm going to try to as best as I can to set myself up to age well, or as well as I can. There's a lot involved in that but in keeping with week 3's prompt, some of the tools I've been trying to use consistently in an effort to keep well and to age well 

             HigherDOSE Infrared PEMF Go Mat for Recovery and Stress Reduction 

             Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite™ LED EyeCare Max Pro 

             NuFACE NuFACE® Mini+ Petite Facial Toning Device (gratis) - we're about halfway through the 60 day mark (nor have we been as consistent as we could/should have been - ack!!) so I'll hold off a little longer before giving my full thoughts on it. I will say that I have noticed (to my pleasant surprise) some lifting in the eye area - I see it when I've used the device for a few consecutive days and it's motivation to keep on keeping on with it. 

The common denominator with these well-aging tools is the effort needed to see results - while I have seen some results with as little as a few uses, consistency is definitely key - be it 5 minutes a day, once per week, or some other cadence that you can keep to. I've found habit stacking can be helpful with consistency - Habit Stacking Thread 📚 

• Nail Care - a few of us on the BIC are on a nail care journey this year. Some of the tools I've been reaching for to help strengthen and grow my nails include:

             Deborah Lippmann Marshmallow Scrub - I really wish Sephora still carried the brand online

             Cuticle oil - I have been applying this every night. Currently rotating between a couple; this one from 786 (pictured) has been good; I'm almost done with the bottle.

             SEPHORA COLLECTION Reusable Glass Nail File 

             Nail care kit

             DIOR Nail Glow Polish 0.3oz / 10 mL 

             Not pictured: Canmake Nail Hardener, Dior Creme Abricot, and sunblock for hands - for daytime, I use travel / deluxe  sized SPFs - the more moisturizing ones are great for my dry hands. Right now I'm working my way through chemical SPFs from last year's sun safety kit that don't work for my face.

• At-home Spa tools - 

              Body brush - this one is from OSEA, but the SEPHORA COLLECTION Dry Body Brush is a good one and at a good price - we're twinning with this one, too @peculiarzmakeup . Dry brushing takes some getting used to, but using a dry brush before stepping in the shower once a week or once every other week has made and kept my skin soft and smooth. A plus any time but definitely during this cold winter.

             Cryo massager - I received this as a Christmas gift from a marveleous BIC'er. I've been experiencing some tension / tightness in my shoulders, back of my neck. While the coolness can be a little jarring in the winter, this has been a handy dandy way to loosen up some stress-related tightness between massage sessions or when I'm not able to get one in right away.

             Facial steamer - these Sephora Beauty Insider mini facial steamer have shown up a few times in the Rewards Bazaar and, if I'm remembering right, some BIC'ers have shared their thoughts on it in the Rewards Bazaar Trophy Room. If you see these pop up in the Rewards Bazaar (it's 250 points, I think?) or in your local store, I highly recommend picking one up. It's comes in handy when traveling - both size-wise and also, if you're like me, your skin can get extra dry when traveling.  

@TeamBIC 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Incredible display and description of your wellness tools I think it is incredibly helpful how you broke it down into categories, and gave each one a look of products, and practices you use, very beautiful to read! Shower scarf? Such a neat concept! I love that you encorporated the wellness thread as well! ❤️ @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Awww, thank you @peculiarzmakeup; appreciate those kind words. 

These are the shower scarfs I generally use - I get them at a nearby Asian market or beauty store, but they can be found on amazon as well. There's also an exfoliating mitt that is easily accessible at Target, Ulta, etc. They make it easy to get in some manual exfoliation and you can just use whatever soap, shower gel is in your rotation. It's gentle enough that I can use it everyday but I tend to rotate between a dry brush and these.

[peculiarzmakeup]

Ooo I love these these are amazing! I will have to pick one up they look so useful ❤️ @itsfi 

[CynthieLu]

You nailed it! @itsfi consistency is key with nuface. 🙌

But I'm thrilled you see that lift in your eye area too! 🥳 

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, thank you. It has been a nice surprise. 

[CorgiMommy]

I have a PEMF mat too.   I absolutely love using it after a hard workout, the next morning I am ready to go out it again.  My dog with back issues loves it too!

[itsfi]

@CorgiMommy, that’s great. They seem to be a hit for those who have them.

[Sunnysmom]

Week 3 (1/22 – 1/28): Trying out tools to promote wellness (rollers, high tech tools, DIY massage . . .)

I enjoy using this little family of products. Also forgot my gua sha and face roller. 😊 Thank you so much to @TeamBIC for the generous holiday gifts including the NuFACE NuFACE® Mini+ Petite Facial Toning Device ! These are great with consistent use as most tools! 😃 I also find as gravity loves to take precedence ( 😳) that doing face yoga also helps. I struggle with puffiness and allergy junk too and using my hands and oil is pretty effective. 

Kate McLeod The Dry Brush ouch but good to get circulation going

similar Sephora scalp massagers and eye rollers available 

Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar - quick and effective

Neck face Massager 

Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool - I need to use this more but the others have taken precedence

SEPHORA COLLECTION Rose Quartz Facial Roller 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Such an amazing collection! I like how you describe the tools and how they work for you as well as other things you use alongside of them to enhance wellness! Fantastic tools ❤️ @Sunnysmom  

[Sunnysmom]

I enjoy using all of these @peculiarzmakeup , and hope to add a few others someday too! 

[CynthieLu]

Everything you have in your collection has such a zen vibe @Sunnysmom I just get this sense of how relaxing using some of those must be just from looking at your photo. Ooouh your girl sculpting bar sounds so lovely! 😍

[Sunnysmom]

I’m learning thanks @CynthieLu ! The JD sculpting bar is my absolute favorite! Need all the zen we can get eh?! (The mug may or may not help. 😉)

[CynthieLu]

I can picture the bar being sooo calming to use. @Sunnysmom 💛 ahh yeah, I'll take and peaceful moments as they come and be grateful. 🙏

[jaaayp]

Been loving this Skincare challenge as I tend to do these every new year as I get a year older, I like to pretend I'm beating the aging process 😂

That being said, I've added a new tool to my rotation this year. The Luna 3 Go is pretty life changing for me. I forgot how clean using a cleaning tool makes my face feel esp after a day of makeup! I used to be a Clarisonic (does anyone remember) girl and then my skin got amazing out of nowhere so I abandoned it and then skin got bad, picked up the original Lunas and then skin got better, abandoned it again, and now here we are. Skin bad = new tool = lots of wasteful $ spent LOL it's a vicious cycle, a toxic relationship, my skin and I.

The other 2 has been in my rotation since December, again, thank you @TeamBIC for the amazing NuFACE NuFACE® Mini+ Petite Facial Toning Device been using it everyday and although I haven't seen drastic improvements, i do see tiny bits here and there where my skin feels more taut (no lift though...)

The PMD has been a staple for me for the past 2 years or so. I try to get a monthly facial but if I can't get it to for the month, this comes in clutch and/or as supplement between the months.

 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Beautiful wellness tools! The facial toning device looks very useful I’m glad it’s working out. The PMD device looks so neat, how often do you use it? The Foreo looks like it would be both fun and beneficial to use as well! These are so neat! ❤️❤️ @jaaayp 

[ThenTheresPoe]

That is an amazing list! How do you like the pmd in it's performance? I have been considering it but worried about potential damage to the skin 

[CynthieLu]

You have a good arsenal of tools at your disposal@jaaayp. 👌🩷 I'm curious about your PMD, what does it do??

[Amelliee]

I’ve been using a face mask wand, and it works great for me! Because I’m not touching my face, I’ve been getting less acne from it!!

Benefit Cosmetics Mini The POREfessional Deep Retreat Pore-Clearing Clay Mask 1 oz / 30 ml 

[CynthieLu]

Tools sure do come in handy. 😃 @Amelliee That's excellent to hear your face mask wand has been so helpful.