REMOVING MAKEUP
Returning to your natural state before bed is an indispensable ritual. The skin must be thoroughly and gently rid of all makeup, and with it the day’s many trials. Indeed, whatever your skin type, skin is fragile and must be allowed to breathe. A makeup removal solution should be very simple: just a touch of floral water and a few drops of natural oil sprinkled on a cotton pad—as many times as necessary to remove all traces of makeup or urban grime.
CLEANSING THE FACE
The feeling of a clean face is one of life’s simplest pleasures, but this step should be handled carefully. Washing is good—stripping is not. You must find the ritual that will leave you fresh and satisfied, without upsetting the balance of your skin. Perhaps some warm, clear water—whether mineral or filtered—or a little floral water on a cotton pad? Using soap is unnecessary! So is rubbing the skin, which tends to dry it. Overly aggressive cleansing will tire, irritate, and inflame the skin.
CLEANSING THE HAIR
This may sound simple, and yet! Our obsession with shampoo, which we insist on lathering on frenetically, and which we rinse off hastily, goes against our objectives. . . . The art of proper hair cleaning means a hair-embellishing treatment: select an organic, gentle shampoo, start by dispensing the desired dosage into a bowl and diluting it with some tepid water, pour it onto your damp hair, and gently and slowly massage with the tips of your fingers until clean. Then rinse, rinse, rinse . . . and to complete the rinsing process, you may want to try some diluted hair care vinegar, which imparts shine and removes the last remaining impurities. Ideally, little by little you should try to space out each time you use shampoo, first by one day, and then two. The scalp will then learn to recover its balance on its own.
SCRUBBING
The skin is all about touch. Sometimes, just by running your fingers over it, you may feel the need to refine its grain, to soften it. Obviously, the thin skin of the face requires a greater level of care and gentleness than that of the body, which is often less fragile. But it is just as obvious that neither should be constantly worn down, letting the skin balance itself. Rather, remember to exfoliate your body once a week, and give your face a rest—a gentle scrub once every ten days will suffice.
MASSAGING THE FACE
A facial massage could become a daily pleasure, whenever you apply a cleansing milk, a plant oil, or a cream. It should be done from the center out. Circular motions, tiny pinches . . . it is the simplest of royal treatments for the face, which helps to maintain or recover radiance: it relaxes and smoothes the facial features, all the while oxygenating and calming the skin.
MASSAGING THE BODY
Self-massages, whether dry or wet (in a warm bath or shower), are a good way to unknot tense muscles and to make a fresh start. Your body could benefit from special treatment with a regularly applied beneficial oil, and from a short, focused massage as you apply your everyday cream.
BRUSHING THE BODY
Whether in the shower or in a dry setting, rubbing yourself from top to toe, using a brush with relatively firm bristles, will bring the skin tremendous vitality, improve its appearance, ward off fat dimples, and soften it without damaging it. What could be better? This treatment can be performed daily.
BRUSHING THE HAIR
The myth about giving your hair one hundred brush strokes a day has a romantic ring to it, but not all heads of hair require the same rituals, and it would be disastrous for some. . . . Gently brushing or combing your hair rids it of impurities, makes it shinier, and stimulates the scalp. It is important to find the right tool for you, which should be high-quality and suited to your hair so as not to damage it. The proper pace at which to brush depends on you and on whether you like your hair coiffed or disheveled.
MASKS
If you’re taking the time to apply a mask, chances are you can also set aside five minutes to concoct it yourself. A little clay and vegetable powder, some floral water, and natural or essential oil, and there you have it: a highly natural and efficient treatment for the face or hair! Each mask is an opportunity for your body and mind to catch their breath: such attentions will also boost your morale.