2020 Community Self-Care Check-in Challenge!

[BrendaBT]

As the New Year unfolds and we adjust back into our daily hectic routines it is important to remember to pause, take a break, and take care of ourselves as well. This year my biggest goal is to practice more self-care rituals. After all, beauty starts from within!

As a way to commit, hold each other accountable, and ultimately help each other take care of ourselves, we thought it would be fun to do a weekly self-care check-in, by choosing one ritual and reporting back weekly with our progress.

Now, I know most of us are busy people, but dedicating time for ourselves can be as simple and effective as:

1. A morning meditation, and/or nightly adaptogenic drink (may we suggest FOUR SIGMATIC - Golden Latte Mushroom Mix with Shiitake & Turmeric or FOUR SIGMATIC - Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix with Reishi )
2. Better sleep! Committing to getting a full night's sleep 1 night/week, and sticking to an earlier bedtime.
3. Waking up! Get up after that first alarm so you’re less rushed in the morning and have more time to mentally prepare for the day!
4. Be active - get to yoga 1/week or go for an early morning run before work.
5. Skincare - masking on a weekly basis, getting a facial, or remembering to remove your makeup every night!
6. “Me time!” Embrace the FOGO (fear of going out), read that book you've been wanting to pick up
7. Make healthier choices - adding more fruits and veggies to your meals.
8. YOU PICK! You know yourself better than we do, so if we missed something please share how *you* want to take care of yourself. Just don’t forget to check in with us! 😊

This thread will be a place to talk about your weekly self-care check-ins, share how you’re feeling about your progress, recommend/talk about products you’re using, and share your self-care tips and tricks.

Reply below to tell us which self-care ritual you’re committing to!

*EDIT 4/2:

Hello everyone, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe! Given the times, we may just need this thread more than ever so we wanted to add in extra self-care goals now that many of us are spending more time at home or are going into the world helping others. Here are some additional ideas for taking care of yourself. We challenge you to try a few of these and share your wins on this thread!

1. Stick to your routine: Maybe it's putting on your favorite outfit instead of PJs or doing your makeup/hair in the morning! Snap an OOTD and share it here.
2. Staying active: This could be as easy as one 10-minute workout video each week or dusting off your yoga mat. Let’s see that at-home gym or virtual workout class!
3. Setting up your space: Are you reading, eating, sleeping, working out, and BIC-ing in the same spot? Try to establish devoted spaces for all of your activities.  
4. Stay social: Set up virtual face-time with your loved ones and maybe spend some extra time here in the BIC!
5. Spring Cleaning: Try reorganizing your home, bedroom, or simply going through your stuff to declutter your space. If you reorganize your beauty space we would love to see a before and after photo here!
6. Take on a new hobby or learn a new skill: Master that smokey eye you’ve always wanted to. Maybe even learn a new language or instrument!
7. Do your own nails - no nail salon? No problem. Let’s see that at-home mani once you’re done – no worries if it isn’t perfect.

What are you doing for self-care? We are open to all advice and want to congratulate you on your little wins!

[mrsmouse]

Thanks @itsfi!  I used to drink between 96oz - 128oz a day, then it dropped to about 64oz, and then somewhere along the line I completely fell off.  Once I am steadily getting in my 64oz, I'll increase my goal again.

Masking has been MUCH better.  I've got to make sure I didn't waste my money by letting them expire.  😉

[itsfi]

Whoa! 96 - 128 oz is super impressive @mrsmouse! 😍 I try to aim for 64 - 80 oz per day. If I could take in more than that, I would be very happy. 💗

[mrsmouse]

@itsfi, During that time I was running regularly (I need to get back to that too so that will be a future goal) and 32oz was consumed just during the workout.

[trishavt]

Haha! I love this channel.

IT ME drinking that bottle of wine 😄 

[LexBT]

I'll be the first to admit, I skipped last week's check in! It was a holiday weekend and I was just completely thrown off my routine in more ways that one. And you know what? I'm learning to be FINE with that. It's taken about a week, but I'm happy to say I'm back on track with meal prepping and empty chasin'. I didn't have a ton of time to grocery shop, so I threw some things together with what I had. Check out this concoction made with canned goods and leftover veg from the fridge:

I finally got through my Origins serum and I've had to add some serious moisture to help with some dryness from the cold weather and lots of breakout/oily skin fighting products. Just added Kiehl's Since 1851 Midnight Recovery Concentrate Moisturizing Face Oil 1 oz/ 30 ml to the mix and will be empty-ing away.

I also have to add that i did a hair mask yesterday - the AMIKA - Flash Instant Shine Hair Mask which is much lighter than my normal hair masks, is clear, and was easy to apply. My curls are feeling very smooth, glossy, and shiny today. This begs the question: do we need a HAIR mask of the week challenge?  I'm an avid Sunday hair masker 🙂

[RebeccaBT]

@LexBT That looks so yummy! I feel the struggle after a holiday weekend. Getting back on track is hard!

Best,
Rebecca

[PrettyPaint]

@LexBT  That looks yummy! I have so much fun "making up" recipes with random things in the pantry/fridge. I love the hair mask challenge idea as well. I've been eyeing that Amika mask - it looks really nice!

[itsfi]

Oh, that looks yummy @LexBT! 😋 That’s really an excellent and realistic outlook. We all have bad days, weeks... just gotta work on getting back on track, one step at a time! Thank you for that reminder and encouragement! 🤗 

[mrsmouse]

@LexBT, You know, learning to be fine with an off week now and again is really important.  One time does not undo all of your hard work, so bravo to you on that!  Also, I'm impressed with what you were able to throw together with just canned foods and leftover veggies.  I'm not imaginative at all when it comes to cooking.  If there's not a recipe, I'm in trouble.  😉

Hair mask of the week challenge sounds super fun!  🙂

[CarolBT]

I would be into a hair masking challenge @LexBT ! My frizz is getting a little wild and I want to try the amika. I also have Olaplex No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector 3.3 oz / 100 mL that I have been wanting to try and just haven't done it yet. 

Question for those who know (including you!), do you hair mask on clean hair and then wash out, so this means you're doing a double wash? Or do you do a hair mask on whatever state your hair is in and *then* wash out; that way you're washing only once? I honestly am not clear on this.

[blackkitty2014]

This is my day routine for the last 2 days. I have to say I really really like the Algenist Genius Collagen Calming Relief as a day cream/moisturizer. I think this is my favorite product from my mask gratis box so far. I accidentally discover that it works really well with my Chanel Water Tint. 

These are my based products for today. No concealer no primer needed and this is my face

I’m very please. So this Algenist mask will be replenished and it will be in my travel bag. Thumb up for the packaging too

Algenist GENIUS Collagen Calming Relief 1.35 oz/ 40 mL

[RebeccaBT]

Hi @blackkitty2014,

Your skin looks amazing!!

Best,
Rebecca

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you so much @RebeccaBT ❤️🌹You’re so sweet 🥰

[LexBT]

@blackkitty2014 I'm so glad you're liking the Algenist GENIUS Collagen Calming Relief 1.35 oz/ 40 mL cream - it's been in my basket for quite some time now. I'm glad to hear it works well for day too - do you add a primer on top of it before makeup or do you generally go bare skin?

[blackkitty2014]

Hi @LexBT so I tried this again the other day the Algenist cream with regular foundation. It still look pretty nice without primer and concealer. This cream (whether this tube or the replenish one) will be with me next trip 🥰. I might just skip primer (one less thing to bring especially when flying) 

These are the only things I used and eyeshadow, blush, lipstick and Guerlain meteorites lightly dusting all over. This Algenist cream has an affect of moisturizer + primer on me somehow. Really lovely. I recommend it. 👍

[LexBT]

@blackkitty2014 I love when one product can knock two out of my routine! Will definitely keep this in my basket. Thanks for your recommendation and updates.

[RebeccaBT]

Hi @blackkitty2014,

You look beautiful! Your skin looks amazing! 

Best,
Rebecca

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you so much @RebeccaBT ❤️🌹💋

[blackkitty2014]

Hi @LexBT , for that particular day, i applied the toners and then the Algenist cream and Chanel water tint and then the GA loose transparent powder.  No primer, no concealer, and no extra foundation.  The Chanel water tint is advertised as primer/foundation/touch-up.  According to their web site, "2. MAKEUP: For a natural-looking bare-skin effect, apply LES BEIGES Water-Fresh Tint all over". When i use my regular Tacha Silk Cream instead of the Algenist cream, i feel liked i need a thin layer of primer/concealler with the Chanel water tint in order to reduce imperfection(?).  I will try tomorrow with no concealler, no primer and just regular foundation and will report back.  One thing to note is that i dont like foundation.  🙂 Even though, i claim i use foundation, a bottle of foundation normally lasts me more than a year or more 🙂

[blackkitty2014]

This was my last night routine. I got so comfortable with Laneige products that sometimes I overlooked them. I always feel liked ya I don’t know if that do anything. But then I always very please the next day that my skin is so smooth. So yes after 2 weeks of using this nightly I can confident to say it does what it says it does and I will love this new mask as much as the water mask. 🥰 Thx you @TeamBIC for the wonderful gratis again. I enjoy every product so far. ❤️💋
LANEIGE Cica Sleeping Mask

[haleyvvvv]

My once a month check-in

I've been fairly good about continuing to eat healthier. We get a dinner meal plan service 4 nights a week, and I try to add at least one additional veggie. Although, when I was sick, my partner had to do the cooking, and improvising isn't his strong suit. We also get a delivery fruit and veggie box weekly and are okay about clearing through that (I've been taking fruit to my new job every day for an afternoon snack). I'm still such a sweet tooth as well. For me, it's about balance.

I've been okay about waking up in the morning, but not great. It's hard because my new job is atypical. Academia is fairly loosy-goosy but my new supervisor hasn't started yet, so I'm kinda free floating at the moment and that makes it even worse to start a routine. I do have a new eye makeup routine which is speedy so that's making my mornings go a little quicker.

Except for when I'm sick and Sundays, I've been getting my move minutes and baseline active points for the week, but I'd like to do a little more than walking to and from the bus and around campus.

As for sleep, I'm trying to get more. Unfortunately today, I've had a tiny diet coke this evening after going caffeine free for over a week and now its 2 and I'm still wide awake 😳

What's important is that we're trying and doing what we can!