When I was little and still living in Malaysia, I used to stay at my grandmother’s house after we finish school as my parents were at work. She would wash us after we finish lunch before sitting us down to finish our homework.
My grandmother was a very simple woman. She lived on her own, my grandfather passing away from cancer when I was only 2 years old. Instead of expensive, exotic smelling body and face cleansers, she would wash our hair, face and body …. all with a single bar of soap.
“OMG! How could she!” I hear you shudder.
We didn’t have any hot water and we would wash with the freezing cold water in the well. If we complained it was too cold, she would add some boiling water to the well to heat it a little. But it was still cold. She always told us the cold was good for us.
My grandmother sadly passed away a few years ago but I remember the advice she gave me about taking time to enjoy things. To eat, to cook and even while washing ourselves.
Now, as I grow older and have access to more expensive, effective and nice-smelling facial and body washes, I am reminded that we often don’t take time to enjoy our skincare rituals. We see it as a means to an end and quickly do it because the magazines tell us it’s good to do so. We don’t have time to spend on our skin care routines as we have kids to tend to, important business meetings to prepare for and a world to conquer.
I see how Oriental women clean their faces, learning from my late mother and step-mother now, they take their time cleaning their faces. It’s an important part of self-care and focused self-care helps to de-stress the mind, body and encourage the skin to heal. It’s a natural anti-aging ritual that should not be ignored.
For this week’s video blog, I’ve created a short video on “How Oriental Women Wash their Faces.” It’s the first video of the Smart Skin Solution video series – how to Master the Top 8 Professional Skin Care Routines.
While you’re washing your face, be mindful of these steps below to create “Cleansing with Awareness”. It’s similar to Eating with Awareness where you take time for the eating experience to help reduce cravings, control portion size and enhance digestion. Cleansing with Awareness will reduce over-stimulation of your skin, reduce premature wrinkles, prevent breakouts and balance your stress hormones, Cortisol.
CLEANSING WITH AWARENESS
1. Clean your face in a setting that is relaxing. Close the bathroom door, shut out the external noise from the world and put on your favourite music.
2. Create an area where you wash your face that makes you happy. Splash your favourite colours and your favourite scent. Light a scented candle to create the mood. It may seem strange at first but little by little, this will become second nature and your body will automatically get the message that “face cleaning time” is “skin repair time”.
3. Wash your face with your daughter or younger niece. Have fun while you’re washing, this will create a closer bond and you have to be focused when you’re teaching your younger enthusiast (who look up to you by the way!) how to do it right.
4. Clean your face purposefully, gently and slowly. Focus on the motions of your fingers, your hands and be grateful for the skin that drapes your face. The skin that protects you, identifies you and allows you to communicate and express yourself. Remember you only have one skin, take good care of it.
I hope you enjoy this week’s video, “How Oriental Women Wash their Faces.”
Over to you.
“What special face cleansing ritual did you learn from your mother or elder in your family?”
Please leave your comment in the box below. If you have any questions, please let me know too. Would love to hear from you.
Until next week’s video, here’s to your beautiful skin, life and happiness.