When it comes to our morning beauty routine, we often tend to think it begins and ends with make-up, and sure this is definitely part of it, but really we should be thinking about it from the moment we wake up. Practising a good morning routine sets you up for a calm, positive and productive day, so here are some simple tricks to get you up and out the door feeling fresh and ready to tackle whatever the day throws at you.
- Don’t hit snooze
Sure we can’t all be those morning people who wake with the sun and voluntarily spring out of bed, but we can give ourselves a helping hand by not hitting snooze at least. When your alarm wakes you up, then you roll back over you’re sending mixed signals to your brain and your body and you’ll just end up feeling worse when you do eventually drag yourself out of bed. Place your phone/alarm clock on the other side of the room so you’re forced to get up to switch it off.
Tip: The secret to getting up in the morning starts the night before, get to bed early and don’t spend hours scrolling on your phone before you do, try and switch off from all devices at least one hour before your head hits the pillow.
- Drink warm water with lemon
When you do get up, the first thing you should do is drink a nice big glass of warm (not hot) water with fresh lemon in it. The lemon will help invigorate you and wake you up as well as detoxifying, cleansing and kick-starting your body for the day ahead.
- Get moving
Get your body moving first thing in the morning, whether it’s a full workout, some yoga or even just doing some stretches to get your limbs moving.
- Take 5
Whether it’s while you sip your hot water and lemon or eat your breakfast or you have time to dedicate it separately, taking a few minutes to sit and be calm, clear the mind – and even some meditation if that’s your thing – can help set your mind on the right path for the day.
Tip: If you wake up feeling stressed and can’t stop thinking about everything you have to do that day, write a to-do list and plan your day, get it down on paper and out of your brain.
- The power of the shower
There’s nothing quite like the burst of water in the shower to energise you to start your day, try and avoid having the water too hot, or if you love a hot shower try finishing off with a burst of cold water to help wake you up and get that blood flowing – as well as closing the pores on your skin. NIVEA’s Shower Clay Fresh Blue Agave & Lavender uses the power of natural kaolin clay to get you clean and leave your skin feeling purified and soft to touch.
- Face rolling
Invigorate the skin on your face by using a jade roller which works to increase blood circulation and assist lymphatic drainage – some people even swear they can reduce fine lines…While the science is still out on the effectiveness of these, the Chinese have been doing it for thousands of years so there must be something to it, right?
Tip: Keep your Jade roller in the fridge for an extra fresh feeling and always remember to roll in an upwards motion – we want to fight against gravity not give it a helping hand!
- Dry body brushing
Before you jump in the shower, take a few minutes to dry body brush your skin. Not only is it incredible for exfoliation but it also works wonders underneath the skin too by increasing blood circulation as well as promoting lymphatic flow and drainage.
- You are what you eat
Start your day right with a proper breakfast, whether it’s some eggs and wholegrain toast, Greek yoghurt and fruit or a smoothie, take the time to get a healthy and hearty breakfast into you to give you energy and set you on track for eating well the rest of the day.
Tip: If you struggle to find the time in the mornings – a few minutes of prep the night before can make the world of difference.
