Wake-up shower or bedtime bath? Sun salutations or sunset mediation? Morning to-do list or evening journal? Whether you start, end – or bookend – your days with them, routines can bring comfort, order and a sense of certainty. By anchoring us amidst chaos or steadying us in times of stress, they can also support our mental health.
With our new skincare collection launching this spring, wellness-enhancing routines are on our minds. Read on to discover how to balance routine with spontaneity for added joy, and the simple skincare regimen to follow for a radiant, fresh-faced glow….
DAILY ROUTINE
“I find I need routine to keep me grounded,” says Morwenna White, manager of Watergate Bay Hotel’s invigorating take on a spa, Swim Club. “I’m a planner – I like to know what I'm doing each day, otherwise I feel lost and unproductive.”
land&water’s manager and resident therapist, Sue Taylor, agrees: “Routine works for me as I like to start my day with a plan. I always begin with making my bed – it unsettles my balance for the entire day if it isn't done!"
From walking the dog to washing your face, brewing a pot of coffee to preparing a meal, there can be a quiet beauty in familiar daily rituals and even, curiously, a feeling of liberation. By living within the boundaries of certain routines, we can open up space for creativity and allow imagination to take flight. Just look at the habits of some of history's most famous creatives: Beethoven meticulously counted out the 60 beans his daily cup of coffee required, Ernest Hemingway always rose at 5.30am, and Tchaikovsky walked for exactly two hours every day.
But what would routine be without a splash of its counterpart, spontaneity?
BALANCING ROUTINE & SPONTANEITY
Land & water. Outside & inside. Loud & quiet. Solitude & company. Routine & spontaneity. The coming together of distinct forces and moods – and the positive tension between them, where each side elevates the other – lies at the heart of land&water. It’s why we blend two different scent worlds in our recipes for bath and body; one exhilarating and airy, the other restoring and serene. Just like swimming in an icy stream on a baking-hot day, curling up in a window seat while a storm rages outside, or an exciting, off-the-cuff change to an everyday plan, we enjoy each element more because of the presence of the other.
Plus, spontaneity is scientifically proven to enhance happiness. In 2016, research found that people enjoyed an activity more if it was impromptu. Scheduling a cinema trip or a coffee break made them feel “less free-flowing and more work-like”. Another team of researchers found that “low spontaneity” can even cause “psychological suffering”. Too much predictability and pre-planning, it seems, can kill the joy.
While Morwenna likes to base her day around a few foundational routines, she also leaves space for spur-of-the-moment fun: “When the weather’s good, I'll adjust my plans so I can take the opportunity to get to the beach and go sea-dipping, bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding or just catch a sunset with my nearest and dearest.”
But skincare is one area where Morwenna and Sue wouldn’t recommend messing with routine, explaining that consistency is key. “If you’re changing things up with different products every day, how can you know what is and isn't working for your skin?” asks Morwenna. “Consistency helps with balance,” says Sue, whose personal skincare routine is “as important as cleaning my teeth; it starts my day on the right track.” A consistent skincare routine, says Sue, means “starting and ending your day with cleansed, fresh skin and mind”.
HOW TO BUILD A SKINCARE ROUTINE
When building an effective skincare routine, keep things simple. Follow the three-step ritual of cleanse, tone, and moisturise to support healthy, radiant skin.
“The three-step approach of cleanse, tone, and moisturise is easy to follow and suits most people. It doesn't take hours and can be kept up with minimal impact to your day,” says Morwenna. “Each step is required for the next product to work,” explains Sue. “You need cleansed skin for the toner to restore your skin’s PH balance to ensure your moisturiser can be easily absorbed.”
And how should we go about cleansing, toning and moisturising our skin to see the best results? “Ideally, you want to follow these three steps each morning before applying any make-up and every evening before bed to keep the skin clean, clear and hydrated,” says Morwenna.
STEP ONE: CLEANSE
Purify and prep
Daily cleansing is essential to remove dirt, make-up and pollutants, purify the skin, and prevent breakouts and clogged pores. Proper cleansing also preps the skin for the toner and moisturiser that follow, allowing them to sink in more effectively.
Our natural purifying cream face cleanser harnesses natural actives and pure essential oils like lemon & aloe vera to lift away dirt and leave skin feeling clean, soft and radiant. For instant refreshment, our foaming face wash captures the herbaceous aroma of just-picked mint leaves and the green and floral scent of neroli to cleanse the skin and recreate the invigoration that comes from uplifting days outside. Both are suitable for all skin types and gentle enough for everyday use.
STEP TWO: TONE
Rebalance and refresh
After cleansing, gently sweep our soothing rose & linden toner over face and neck using your fingertips or a cleansing pad. Bringing clifftop refreshment to your complexion, the restoring blend of coastal garden botanicals – rose, aloe vera, linden, lavender and chamomile – in this recipe calm inflammation and rejuvenate skin, while vitamin E strengthens the skin barrier and softens.
STEP THREE: MOISTURISE
Replenish and hydrate
After cleansing and toning, gently massage a thin layer of moisturiser into your skin morning and night. Moisturiser rehydrates the skin, relieving dryness, smoothing, restoring and rejuvenating skin texture, and supporting a strong skin barrier.
Whatever your skin type, we have a moisturiser to match. Dry and mature skin will drink up our nourishing samphire & hyaluronic acid blend. Combination skin will find brightness and balance in our sea buckthorn & vitamin C-enriched recipe. Sensitive skin will be comforted and calmed by our blackberry & sweet almond oil moisturiser.
“Very dehydrated skin might be better suited to the use of facial oils and oil-based serums to add even more moisture,” says Morwenna.
EXTRAS TO CONSIDER
Once the solid foundation of this three-step skincare routine is in place, you can start to think about the thoughtful additions that will help give your skin an extra boost, depending on your individual needs – whether that’s smoothing out wrinkles, calming inflammation or delivering a dewy glow. For Sue, this includes eye cream, serum and an occasional face mask or scrub. For Morwenna, “a night cream or serum”, or, for the full facial experience, “exfoliators and face masks.”
Discover the full land&water skincare collection here.
FIVE IDEAS FOR INVITING SPONTANEITY INTO YOUR LIFE THIS SPRING:
-
Seize the day and go with your gut (or heart). Beautiful morning? Postpone checking your emails and head out the door for a quick walk or swim. Feeling peckish with an empty fridge? Treat yourself to the daily special at your favourite cafe.
-
Explore somewhere new. Pick a destination, explore the area on foot, follow your nose and let the rest unfold from there. No detailed planning needed.
-
Spontaneously gift something to your significant other, a friend or family member.
-
Create without expectation. Start with a blank sheet of paper and some coloured pens or paints. Begin making marks and see what happens.
-
Block out an hour in your diary to take yourself on a solo date. Don’t plan it in advance; just decide what you want to do there and then. You could even put some ideas in a hat and pull one out.
