Repeat as often as needed, even on a Tuesday.

I’m not saying you should skip work but…

surprise yourself, maybe.

If you’ve been pouring into everyone else all week, you’re not alone. Over 70% of women in the workforce are engaged in helping professions (e.g. healthcare and social assistance), and I’m sure just as many women in general spend more time helping others relax than they do for themselves. Even as someone who relishes balance, I sometimes have a hard time achieving that happy medium. There are days when I feel like I’m giving others my all, like I barely have a moment to catch my breath. On days like these, I look forward to a self-care day. Whether you begin or end your week with Sunday, this day isn’t just about spoiling yourself, it’s about treating your serenity like a ritual. It’s about sustainability, balance, and protecting the peace that makes you shine.

Your Simple Self-Care Routine to Rest, Glow, and Reset

Get in darling, we’re prioritizing tranquility! Whether your skin needs a glow-up, your muscles need to relax, or your mind needs clarity, this guide will help you create a routine that feels luxurious and intentional. Best of all? Each step is supported with curated wellness finds to make your reset more enjoyable, ready on your doorstep by your next refresh.

Step 1: Set the Mood for Deep Relaxation

Before diving into skincare, journaling or stretching, create a calming environment. Intentionally engage your five senses and observe in amazement the effect they have on your ability to decompress. Put on a chill lo-fi playlist, instrumentals only. Brew your favorite tea or warming beverage. Then, light a candle, diffuse calming essential oils, and slip into something that makes you feel fabulously comfortable. This day is all about unwinding, so whatever helps you take it slow is the way to go.

Step 2: Nourish Your Body from Within

Step 3: Treat Your Skin Like Royalty (Glow-Boosting Care)

Melanated skin deserves products that both protect and nourish. Sundays are the perfect day for indulging in treatments you may choose to skip during the busy week.

• Cleanse deeply: Use a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Actives like glycolic acid aren’t necessary in a cleanser, just something that will leave your skin clean, fresh, and bare for the next step.
• Exfoliate: Reveal smooth, radiant skin by exfoliating the outer layer. Choose a smoothing sugar scrub, seshin-style cloth or dry brush before hopping in the shower or bath. Those prone to hyperpigmentation benefit from gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic and mandelic acid for the face, neck, and décolletage.
• Masque and Moisturize: Make sure you lock in hydration with a lotion, cream facial masque, or butter that works with your skin type.

Step 4: Journal, Reflect, and Set Intentions

Journaling helps clear your mind, track your progress, and set intentions for the week. Paired with a gratitude practice, you’re sure to reorient your mindset from exhaustion to positivity for the week ahead. Each week, check out the previous week’s entry to see what went well and how you can improve. Above all, give thanks!

Step 5: Move Gently, Then Rest Fully

Your body deserves as much care as your mind. Gentle yoga, stretching or even a meditative walk can release tension. Cap your evening with restorative rest.

Protect Your Energy and Your Glow

Protect Your Beautiful Energy. That’s the Real Glow-Up!

Self-Care Sunday is more than a trend, it’s a commitment to yourself. By dedicating even an hour to relaxation, reflection, and nourishment, you prepare to address your other responsibilities feeling recharged, confident, and radiant. It may be tough at first to maintain this outlook, but after some practice and commitment to your Self, you’ll notice how truly minuscule energy that does not belong to you is. Now keep yours up, and don’t let anyone tek you fi eediat.

Ready to start your own ritual? Try one, just a couple, or all five of the picks above and create a new, refreshing routine that truly honors you. Remember, subscribe to join the Gloss and Ritual newsletter to get the next drop of wisdom delivered straight to your inbox.