
Slow Beauty is not just about the products we use but is rooted within how we choose to respond to life, how we facilitate our days, what we let ourselves get carried away with and the energy and intention infused throughout each moment. What else is Slow Beauty? Slow Beauty is so much more than clean products. Slow Beauty is a cultivation of energetic practices, spiritual hygiene and how we choose to nourish ourselves through diet, movement and of course, intentionally created skincare products.
How can we enjoy and savor life if we are running through our lives so quickly, so easily diverted, on to the next thing, next purchase, next product. This is not to say we cannot have full lives but more the mindset of embracing intention all that we purchase, our habits, our relationships and throughout life.
In Ayurveda, we love intention, routine and ritual to keep us grounded throughout the mind and body. It is also said in Ayurveda that we live in a very vata-genic world. Vata is the element of space and air and in balance, Vata reflects creativity, flow and movement.
However, excess Vata is indeed the opposite of Slow Beauty and on a macro level, this reflects in aspects of the ungroundedness and chaos of the world. On a micro level, excess vata in our day to day lives can look like inability to quiet the mind and meditate/connect with oneself, restlessness, easily distracted, not taking the time for routine, excess consumerism, dry skin and hair (too much air) and insomnia that wakes you in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep.
Slow Beauty is the opposite of excess Vata and in Ayurveda, the opposite is always the medicine. With that being said, here is my Slow Beauty Prescription for you.
1. Create Ritual
Create ritual in your day. The act of daily ritual does not have to be complicated. Even just a few minutes a day that we dedicate to meditation, journaling, a quiet hobby, cooking in peace, can help to ground energy and calm the mind.
2. Limit Stimuli
Turn off the news and limit external stimulation. There is a difference in being aware and being consumed, with the latter being deeply disruptive to our health, minds and wellbeing. This is a core aspect of a Slow Beauty infused life.
At this point in my life, when people start ruminating in doom and gloom or fear inducing predictions of the future, often created out of their own fears, I will exit the conversation. I choose what I allow to seed into my mind and when. This is also why I spend a lot less time on social media, not to mention the elevated effects on my creativity and focus are profound.
As we start to monitor and have more boundaries around what we allow into our headspace, we naturally start to distance ourselves from the the external noise of the world. This allows our minds and souls to decompress, creating the space to organically expand into our innate curiosities and creativity.
3. Get Intentional
Take the time to get intentional about your skincare products. Know your products and your purchases. During client consultations, I’d ask why a client was using a certain product and they did not always know. Don’t just purchase to purchase. This can often lead to a host of skin problems and wasted products. Embrace your skin and connect to the why of your products.
4. Self Massage
Abhyanga massage, also referred to as sneha or self-love. Not only does this self-practice of full body massage hydrate and nourish the skin, but oil grounds us and prevents us from picking up other peoples energy. Traditional Abhyanga is applying oil to the body before we get into the shower, which deeply moisturizes skin too. I practice both ways. Sometimes I oil before the shower, sometimes after, depending on my schedule and workouts. I’ve built my full Abhyanga method into my Body Rituals Module inside Radiant Beauty Collective because I am such an advocate for this practice.
Slow Beauty isn’t complicated, it is actually quite the opposite. When we are connected to intention, we then become fully embodied behind our actions and things flow with more ease. To stay rooted and heart centered is indeed a gift in itself and is at the core of a Slow Beauty infused lifestyle. We dive deep into Ayurveda and Slow Beauty inside Radiant Beauty Collective and building out the modules has deepened my own love and practices around both even more.
There is no doubt in my mind that Ayurveda and a grounded approach to life are needed now more than ever and if you agree, you do not want to miss the launch of Radiant Beauty Collective. With over 50+ lessons, resource lists and working directly along with me, you’ll transform not only your skin but your entire lifestyle through timeless practices and methods of mind, body, spirit and skin.
With Love,
Jen xx