3 Things This Beauty Editor Does To Bring Joy Into Her Routine 

I inherently find my beauty routine pretty joyful. I relish washing my face (my favorite part of my routine). I love facial massage and rollers and have collected half a dozen or more stones at this point. Creams with whip-thick textures make me feel downright giddy. Going to get a haircut or facial will have my spirit lifted for days and days after. Good thing my job is in beauty, no? 

Well, last year showed me that we really can't take these simple joys for granted. And in fact, we really should be incorporating more of what we love into our daily lives. 

One of the best parts of visiting a hair salon is the head massage. But why wait for someone else to tend to your scalp—especially given it might be just a bit longer till we're comfortably back to regular appointments? See, it's pretty easy to give yourself one daily, and it comes with a wide range of benefits. 

To start, let me entice you with what daily scalp massage can do for you: The ritual can improve circulation to the scalp, which research shows may even improve hair growth1. It also reduces the stress hormone cortisol2 in the body. Finally, it can even relieve headaches and other tension-related pains. (Read our full guide, which includes a how-to.) 

Skin supplements are a big part of my beauty routine: They support my overall health with vital nutrients and help me prioritize my skin, even on days when I'm not perfect in my routine. One of my favorites is mindbodygreen's nr+. 

As someone who doesn't do manis regularly and has been known to pick at my cuticles when anxious, my hands aren't always taken care of as they should be. Don't get me wrong, I adore a good hand cream, but overall I tend to leave the skin lacking. 

That will change this year. I have decided I'm keeping to regular nail maintenance, hydrating my skin multiple times a day, and not letting drying hot water or soap do their worst, especially considering how much we are sanitizing now.