Autumn Pamper for Cold, Gloomy Nights (and Days)

Cold, rainy, windy weather.

It’s finally here!

Yes, I’ve also grown a bit tired of the unusually warm weather we’ve been experiencing.

There is something SO cozy about that rainy, sweater weather, but it can sometimes affect our mood too.

I don’t always know how to deal with the gloominess outside. There are days when it makes me feel all happy, comfy and cushy, and there are days when it just makes me feel a bit… sad.

Having one, extra-long pamper session a week won’t fix everything. BUT if you mix in a few things you enjoy doing with a little self-care and make it a habit to teach yourself to slow down, even the gloomiest of days can feel a bit brighter.

AUTUMN PAMPER FOR COLD AND GLOOMY NIGHTS (AND DAYS)

SETTING THE MOOD

Candles and essential oils are two things I absolutely need to set the mood- both are a must for an autumn pamper. My essential oil collection is ever-growing and I diffuse them at my home office when working, when I’m meditating, when I’m reading- pretty much all the time. Eucalyptus is a favorite I reach for whenever I feel the need to relax or de-stress. Scented candles are also great for making that long bath on a rainy day a little more relaxing. Right now I can’t get enough of Molton Brown’s Russian Leather*– it’s a woody, muscular scent that kind of smells like wilderness and forest mixed with a little birch, black tea, and leather. It is a perfect candle for this time of year.

I also put my phone on the do not disturb mode. A must for me. Your time is precious and unplugging once in a while is very important.

To add even more ambiance you can also play some music, but to be honest, listening to audiobooks or watching something funny on Netflix is what I usually do since those are the things I don’t get to do too often. Ok, well, I actually do listen to audiobooks almost daily, but those are mostly self-improvement titles, so when I want to relax a little I listen to something more entertaining, like a good mystery. I just finished Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine– SO GOOD! As I’m one of those people who is VERY accident-prone, I’ve drowned countless books and magazines, so I avoid bringing those in the tub. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but it’s very uncomfortable to read in the tub?! No?

MUN Akwi Purifying Cleanser– a dry-skinned girl’s best friend, save 15% with code MUN13T, Complex Beauty Ocean Potion mineral face mask, Monastery Yuzu Body Butter.

A COZY BATH

Taking a bath is something I love to do during colder months. Flower petals look kinda cute, but they will also leave your tub looking a mess, so learn from my mistakes, and skip those. Unless you want to spend an hour cleaning your bathroom post your relaxing bath. Instead, try a good Epsom soak. I’ve been using this one with Eucalyptus and Spearmint since I was in High School and it’s amazing. Seriously one of my favorite drugstore products that I’ve been buying for ages. If you have sore back, muscles, feet- this soak really helps with those small aches and pains. Post my car accident I probably went through about 10 bags of this stuff already- it really helps me out with those tense and stiff muscles that bother me quite a bit at the end of the day.

I also love adding something that will soften my skin, like Palermo Body All-Natural Soothing Milk Bath powder. It’s great for sensitive skin, it has coconut milk and oatmeal in it and leaves the skin feeling very soft and smooth. Another bath-favorite product I really like that’s more affordable is this Skin Nourishing Milk Bath. This product dissolves quickly and turns the water into that pretty, milky-white color while also softening skin. If your skin is more on the sensitive side, I’d suggest the Oatmeal Honey version, OR you could just mix 1 cup of oats with 1 cup of Epsom salt, blend them really well in a food processor and use that to make a bath soak for sensitive skin.

Bath caddy is from Amazon.

FACE MASKING

Autumn pamper wouldn’t be complete without a face mask. A face mask, a jade roller, my favorite cleanser and a washcloth is all I usually grab from my skincare stash when taking a long bath. I love taking my time with MUN Akwi Purifying Cleanser and really work it in my skin by massaging it all over, including my lips. I then put my washcloth under clean running water, squeeze out the excess, cover my face with it and gently press it on. This is one of my favorite little rituals, especially on those days when I’ve been wearing a lot of makeup or when my skin is feeling particularly dry- something that is for most of us difficult to avoid once the temperatures drop. I then usually follow-up with a nice, hydrating mask.

Also loving for my Autumn pamper: this Himalayan Scrub– so good to use all over, I especially love it on my feet and knees. Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask– great for renewing and smoothing skin. Lierac Hydrogenist Hydrating Mask and Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy* mask are both overnight hydrating products. Bath bombs are from Amazon.

QUALITY SELF-CARE

While I don’t usually bring books or magazines with me when enjoying a long bath, I do bring my journal.

You know how people say that some of the best ideas come to you while you’re in the shower?

Well, there is definitely something to that. Sometimes I just brain dump, sometimes I write about my day, other times I write down some ideas I have, goals or plans. That way, I’m taking care of both- my mind and my body. It often just seems like an ideal time and place to gather your thoughts- when you’re in that relaxed and soothing place.

I also sometimes take this time to treat myself a little- I’ll have my favorite tea or a handful of dark-chocolate-covered cashews, and sometimes I go all out and make myself a huge array of some healthy snacks. Oh, and jumping into my favorite loungewear as soon as I slap some body butter on (currently loving the Yuzu Body Butter* by Monastery), is always a perfect end to my pamper sessions.

For all of us who are a bit on the sensitive side, things like the change in seasons, lack of sunshine, rainy weather, can affect our mood. That’s why it’s so important to remember to take care of yourself- even if it’s just by taking a silly bath (because it’s a little more than just that). It’s you letting yourself know that it’s okay to stop and indulge a little once in a while. To pause, relax and do something you really enjoy (which, btw, doesn’t have to be a bath at all).

Oh, and if you guys have any recommendations for a good mystery novel- please do tell!!

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