When work makes our minds feel foggy, our obligations get overwhelming [1], and it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders; it's high time we prioritise ourselves. We all need a moment of zen throughout the day. From aromatherapy to CBD [2], we curated beauty products that will make taking care of yourself easy and fun. These finds can be easily integrated into your lifestyle, whether it's your skin-care routine, bath and shower practices, fitness routines, and more. Practicing self-care is not only a way to treat yourself but a necessary habit to check in with yourself [3] and make sure you are doing okay. Add some serenity back into your life with 28 beauty products that will help you feel calm and relaxed all year long.
— Additional reporting by Sophia Panych
This Works Stress Check Breathe Out
The entire This Works Stress Check range, which includes everything from hand wash to a lip mask, is aimed at helping you ... well, de-stress. We keep the This Works Stress Check Breathe Out [5] (£18) rollerball perfume at our desk and roll it on throughout the day when things start to get hectic. The notes of ylang ylang, lavender, and neroli do wonders at calming our nerves.
Kiehl's Since 1851 Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Massage the lavender-scented Kiehl's Since 1851 Midnight Recovery Concentrate [6] (£40) into your skin before bed to help you feel sleepy.
Skin & Tonic Calm Balm
Since the pandemic, Hackney-based brand Skin & Tonic has seen a 200 percent increase in sales of its Calm Balm [7] (£13), an aromatherapy balm made from a soothing blend of lavender (sourced from the south of France), chamomile, and calendula. There are dozens of way to use this gorgeous-smelling balm: apply it on your pulse points (like your wrists and temples); spread it between your palms, cup your hands over your face and breathe deeply; apply it to dry skin as a moisturiser; or rub it over sore muscles for a spa-worth massage.
Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate
The Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate [8] (£22) contains the incredibly calming combination of lavender, lavandin, and clary sage essential oils. Spread it on your pulse points throughout the day or right before bed (we keep a tube of the rollerball on our nightstand) and breath deeply.
Chilcott Alpaca Super Soft Hot Water Bottle
The Chilcott Alpaca Super Soft Hot Water Bottle [9] (£45) is not just any old hot water bottle. With a cosy covering made out of alpaca (on the outside) and wool (on the inside), the bottle is luxurious and supersoft. And thanks to a sachet of lavender tucked in side, it also envelops you in the most comforting and relaxing scent as it warms up.
CBII CBD Balm Muscle + Skin
Ridiculously silky and lightweight, the CBII CBD Balm Muscle + Skin [10] (£39) contains 300mg of CBD and cannabis sativa oil, plus additional hydrators like shea butter, olive fruit oil, sweet almond oil, and sunflower seed oil. It smells of eucalyptus and lavender, which means the scent is incredibly relaxing (great right before bed), whilst the cannabidiol helps soothe sore muscles, whether you're achey because of a workout or because you spent all day hunched over your laptop.
Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Body Oil
Slather the Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Mind Body Oil [11] (£49) over your skin post-shower you'll instantly feel your shoulders drop and your brows unfurl — with the added bonus of ridiculously soft skin.
PMD Clean Pro RQ
Not only can the PMD Clean Pro RQ [12] (£165) cleanse your skin from the day's impurities, it can also facial massage! One side has silicone bristles that will give you a deep cleanse and the other side has a rose quartz crystal that heats up to encourage relaxing facial massage and product penetration.
The Lab Co. Sleep Laundry Mist
The Lab Co. Sleep Laundry Mist [13] (£9) not only refreshes your bedding (extending the time between washes), but it also leaves your sheets smelling like a wild lavender, chamomile, and jasmine petals — a comforting blend that will have you fast asleep in no time. If you love the smell, the brand also makes a plant-based Sleep Laundry Wash [14] (£14)
Herbivore Botanicals Calm Bath Salts
Wind down by running a bath with Herbivore Botanicals Calm Bath Salts [15] (£16). They smell beautifully of vanilla and ylang-ylang.
Sarah Chapman Pro Hydro-Mist Steamer
Give yourself an at-home spa day with the Sarah Chapman Pro Hydro-Mist Steamer [16] (£119).
Osea Body Care Set
Treat yourself to the Osea Body Care Set [17] (£60) for supple and soft skin from head-to-toe.
Starface Hydro-Stars Party Pack
Kick that pimple-popping habit in 2021 with the supercute Starface Hydro-Stars Kit [18] (£12), now available at Superdrug.
Origins Hello Calm Relaxing & Hydrating Face Mask with Hemp Seed Oil
The Origins Hello Calm Relaxing & Hydrating Face Mask with Hemp Seed Oil [19] (£25) will soothe and hydrate your dry skin.
Georgia Louise Lift+Sculpt Butterfly Stone
The Georgia Louise Lift+Sculpt Butterfly Stone [20] (£68) isn't just good for lymphatic drainage and contouring your jawline and cheekbones. It's also incredibly relaxing — like getting a mini facial in the comfort of your own home. Just slather your face in your favourite rich cream or oil oil, and you're good to go.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender
Give yourself a midday spritz of the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender [21] (£8) for some hydration and aromatherapy.
Quantum Botanika Ocean Bathing
Throwing pieces of seaweed into your bath might sounds a bit strange, but not when you find out that seaweed is full of vitamins and minerals that do wonders for your skin and your muscles. Many fancy spas offer seaweed treatments, but the Quantum Botanika Ocean Bathing [22] (£25) allows you to enjoy a restorative seaweed bath at home (and for a lot less money).
Aroma Beads
Not only are Aroma Beads [23] (£30) bracelets made with mood-enhancing crystals, but they also contain a pumice bead into which you add a few drops of scented oil. The bead will retain scent for between 10-12 hours depending on the oil and can be topped up when it fades. The green aventine bracelet, shown here, is said to help dissolve away emotional negativity, perfect for when you've spent an entire day stressing over emails.
Pai Instant Kalmer Ceramide Serum
The Pai Instant Kalmer Ceramide Serum [24] (£49) truly lives up to its name. Thicker than your average serum, the lightweight gel feels calming and soothing on your skin, leaving it softer, plumper, and even less red than it was before you put it on. You can peace of mind when using it, too. Made with three different plant-based ceramide molecules and sea aster, the serum is free of any potentially irritating essential oils or synthetic fragrances.
Ying Ling Rose Quartz Facial Roller
Facial massage can make a world of a difference. We hold a lot of stress and tension in our faces and this Ying Ling Rose Quartz Facial Roller [25] (£36) can help with that.
LBB Skincare Flight Mode Calming Mood Rescue Oil
Finding it tricky to switch off at the end of the day? The LBB Skincare Flight Mode Calming Mood Rescue Oil [26] (£30), might do the trick. The rollerball contains a blend of nine essential oils — eucalyptus, tea tree, marjoram, cedarwood, patchouli, lavender, lemon, and peppermint — chosen for their abilities to help calm, soothe, ease, and relax the senses. The formula is also incredibly nourishing, thanks to a base made from chia, marula, and jojoba seed oils. Just apply on your pulse points (once you've closed your computer, that is), breathe deeply, and you'll hopefully feel tension start to melt away.
Okiki Relaxation & Pamper Gift Set
The beautifulOkiki Relaxation & Pamper Gift Set [27] (£30) will leave with no option but to spend the evening chilling out. This gift set contains the Green Tea, Aloe, and Guava Body Scrub, a pouch of the Serenity Bath Salts, and the Exotic Face Mask to make sure your mum is relaxed from head to toe.
Neom Bath Foam Destress
If any beauty product is going to help you destress, it's the Neom Bath Foam Destress [28] (£22). The blend of lavender, jasmine, and Brazilian rosewood makes any bathroom smell just like a spa.
Jo Malone London Lavender and Musk Pillow Spray
Nothing quite says relaxation and indulgence like a pillow spray, particularly if it's from Jo Malone. The Jo Malone London Lavender and Musk Pillow Spray [29] (£25) is nothing short of an absolute delight.
Ritual Renewing Collection
If you've spent any time on TikTok or Instagram recently, you've probably come across the Fraîcheur Paris Ice Globes [30] (£95). These ice globes are designed to depuff, soothe, and give skin a glow like never before. If you're into an at-home facial moment, these tools will take your routine up a notch.
Dr Teal's Soothe & Sleep Epsom Bath Soaks
You can never go wrong with the Dr Teal's Soothe & Sleepy Epsom Bath Soaks [31] (£8).
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Stress Rescue Super Serum with Niacinamide
Even our skin feels stressed out at times, and the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Stress Rescue Super Serum with Niacinamide [32] (£75) is here to help!
Herbivore Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil
You're stressed, your skin's stressed, and then your stressed skin is making you even more stressed. Well, Herbivore Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil [33] (£42) must be doing something right, because it earned more than 20,000 loves from Sephora shoppers. It's a full-spectrum CBD, which means it includes a total range of cannabinoids, and the presence of small amounts of THC (less than 0.3 percent) results in an "entourage effect." Think of this as power in numbers as all the cannabinoids work together to be extra effective at calming redness and boosting hydration. Plus, it has ashwagandha, another herb that helps skin cope with lack of sleep, daily stress [34], pollution, and more.