How I De-Stress as a New Mom with L’Occitane…

September 5, 2017

In today’s post, I want to share with you some ways I de-stress and the things I do to make myself feel beautiful and more confident! In today’s world of always being on-the-go and filling up our schedules to the brim, it’s easy to forget to make time for yourself. This is so true for me, and even more so since I became a mom. Keep reading to see all the tips and things I do for myself to relax after a long day of “mommying”… 😉

Since becoming a new mom, it has been hard juggling all of my mommy responsibilities, housework, keeping up with my blog, being a good friend/daughter/sister, and much more! In the beginning, it was hard to find time for myself and I think I went months before I actually went somewhere without Kennedy. It was hard for me to leave her for even a few hours and just have “me” time. As moms we feel guilty sometimes for just wanting to do something for ourselves- I know I do! When Kennedy is napping or after I put her to sleep, I look at all the things I still have to do on my to-do list. Usually, the last thing on my list is something for myself. I think taking at least a couple days a week to do something, even if it’s something small, for yourself is so beneficial for your physical and mental health! Whether it is getting your nails done, taking a workout class, doing your hair and makeup, meditating, watching your favorite television show, or relaxing at home with your favorite skincare mask- it is so important!

Now I want to share with you how I love to relax and de-stress! First, I have been using L’Occitane petal peony face masks and products from their peony skin line this past week and have fallen in love! So at least twice a week, I love to have a mini “spa night” at home where I turn off my phone and all electronics, light a candle, play relaxing spa music, and put on a facial mask and do a whole skin refresher! The Peony Purifying Minute Mask from L’Occitane is so easy to apply and feels so buttery smooth when I apply it to my skin. It is infused with real peony flower petals, so it smells so heavenly and amazing when it’s on my face. The thing I love about the Peony Purifying Mask is it only takes three minutes for it to work! So if you are a multi-tasking mom like me or having a 10 minute relaxation time for yourself after the kids go to bed, it is the perfect go-to mask. I also love the convenient pods it comes in, so it makes it easy to throw in your toiletry bag for traveling. I have used the purifying mask three times already and have already noticed a huge difference in my skin texture and appearance. It was instantly super soft, hydrated and my skin looked so refreshed and awake! The peony mask helps skin feel purified, clean, matte, and pores look less visible. 

Another thing that I feel like helps a lot is listing all the things you are grateful for.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful, for every good thing that comes to you and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

After applying the mask, I love to just lay down on my bed, relax, and meditate. I go through my day and think of all the happy and fun moments I had with my family and friends. I try to block out all my negative thoughts and the things I “think” I did wrong that day. Next, I think of all the things I am grateful for. When I take the time to remember everything I am grateful for, it can totally shift my mood and change the perspective of my day. If I’m having a bad day, I like to just reflect all the little things I am grateful for and it will usually lift my spirits and help me move on with my day. Also just relaxing with my face mask on and not looking at my phone or checking my emails, and just doing something good for myself feels sooo amazing. It is easy to get caught up in the social media world and start scrolling through your IG feed endlessly. Sometimes I catch myself comparing myself to other girls and feeling like I don’t match up to them. When I could’ve used that time to read a book, relax, get some sleep to feel refreshed for the next day, say a prayer, or spend quality time with my hubby. Changing your way of thinking to positive thoughts, stop comparing yourself to other girls/moms, and listing all the things you’re grateful for is an amazing way to feel happiness!

Thirdly, I love feeling good about myself and taking care of my skin and body. It’s one of the things that makes me more confident, makes me an overall happier person, and I feel better about myself looking. It sounds silly, but for me that is what I need. I feel my best when I am freshly showered (moms you know how hard this is haha!), taking good care of my skin, doing some form of exercise, having my hair styled/blow dried for the day, and having some makeup on! Putting in a little effort to your appearance I think helps a lot to boost self-confidence. You face the world that day with your best version of yourself, not only on the inside but the outside as well. You don’t even need to do full hair and makeup everyday (does anybody?! lol), but maybe just a swipe of mascara or letting your hair down and out of the mom pony helps  a lot! It is so weird, but it really does help me feel better about myself and I am always in a better mood when I look and feel great!

I also want to talk about the peony cleansing oil! So I have naturally very oily skin, so I used to never want to apply anything with oil on my skin in fear of breaking out. I have used the Peony Petal Cleansing Oil this week and have loved how my skin looks and feels afterwards. I have used it morning and night, and noticed a difference from the first use. With the Peony Cleansing Oil, a little goes a long way. In the morning, I use a dime sized amount and massage it all over my face and do a mini facial massage. It helps “wake up” my skin and brighten up my skin! Massaging oils into your skin also helps the product absorb and work better! Afterwards I always apply my sunscreen (ladies, this is SO important in keeping youthful skin in the long run)! In the evenings, I remove my makeup but you can still use this to help remove your makeup. I do the same thing and massage it into my skin and then get a washcloth to rinse it off and to make sure I got all my makeup off. I always apply my serums and a thicker moisturizer in the evening before bed. I love how velvety smooth it feels when I apply it to my face, and I look forward to using it everyday now. My skin feels silky smooth afterwards, it looks much more hydrated and gives my face an amazing  glow! I love how it’s infused with real peony flower petals from Provence and each petal was hand placed in each bottle.

Watch my YouTube video below to hear more about some other things I do to relax and hear some more tips from me! I hope this helps you and you will take some time for yourself this week to be the best version of yourself and make it the best week ever! XOXO

Watch my YouTube video below:

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*This post was sponsored by L’Occitane