If there is one thing that hasn’t changed in 2020 - it’s the need for body detox. Not just with what you consume, but literally everything that matters to you. We can all use this time to spring clean ourselves – physically and mentally. Except this year, we urge you to follow a routine that’s exclusively cut out for 2020.
So, get your hands on this freshly curated body detox list, pronto!
1. SKIN
Feel the need for a skin detox? Given our lifestyle, our skin is usually dehydrated and congested (courtesy: makeup that wasn’t fully stripped off). Give yourself (and your skin) a breather firstly with a Charcoal mask. It draws out impurities and absorb excess oil. Clay works in similar ways, so Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque will help in with oil-and-dirt-vacuuming. However, to rehydrate, Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin are hot ingredients. And we like to replenish thirsty skin in a lush little ritual. On a damp face, lay down a thick coat of the nutrient-rich Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque. Leave it on for about half an hour, constantly misting Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water over it. There are two reasons for that. First, Rose Water is gorgeous, luxurious and divine. But more importantly, both Glycerin and HA are thirsty devils that need water to work best. In the absence of humidity, they end up sucking moisture from your skin. After washing off the mask, top with a Hyaluronic Acid Serum (optional) and seal that in with a moisturizer (not optional).
2. HAIR
The salon’s blowdry chair feels like second home? And a volumizing spray and dry shampoo become our most-consumed canned food. This has to change! To rid your hair of product buildup, follow this hair detox tip: lather in a clarifying shampoo, to strip every strand clean of gels, waxes and serums. Advance warning: it’s a drying process, so do it only about once a fortnight, if really needed. Our top three favourites are Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment, Aveda Shampure Nurturing Shampoo and Kevin Murphy Maxi Wash Detox Shampoo. Or go the mad scientist route and DIY your own hair-clarifying recipe. After shampooing your hair as usual, pour one cup water + two-three tablespoons of organic Apple Cider Vinegar over your scalp and lengths, massaging it in. Rinse off after five minutes, then condition. Your scalp’s squeaky clean, just like that.
3. BODY
Nothing can really beat the body’s own detoxifying process, but a helping hand can’t hurt. Sweating it out in a steam room or sauna gives the body a very effective way to eliminate what it doesn’t need through perspiration. Follow that with a lymphatic drainage massage, which stimulates the lymph system that removes excess fluids and waste. Remember to really pump up your water intake afterwards.
Nykaa Recommends: Kama Ayurveda Sugandhadi Rejuvenating Body Treatment Oil, Forest Essentials Body Polisher Hydrating Sea Salt Crystal Rose, Aveda Stress-Fix Composition Oil
4. MIND
We would take down anyone that comes between us and Instagram, but in our more reflective moments, we admit that we could use a digital detox. Next questions that arises is, how to detox your mind? Try and limit screen time to a few short bursts every day. But if you can’t pull the cord, do yourself a favour and download a meditation app like Headspace. Then go ahead and spoil yourself to a loooong bubble bath, with candles and the works. It’s a quick way to recenter yourself and bring a few minutes of calm and mindfulness to what’s going to be one rollercoaster of a year.
Nykaa Recommends: Kama Ayurveda Jasmine Candle, Kama Ayurveda Sambrani Incense Sticks - 30 Sticks, Forest Essentials Diffuser Oil - Madurai Jasmine
5. DIET
Your body is supposed to be a temple. And we’ve been treating ours like a trashy dive bar. While that’s always fun, a little dietary zen would do us all some good. Up your diet plan with an intake of herbal teas and infusions: Dandelion and Milk Thistle are great detoxes, as are Green Tea and Mint Leaves. Our favourite way to start the day is by throwing together a dairy-free breakfast smoothie with Cucumber, Tomato, Parsley, Mint, Coriander, Ginger and Lime (it tastes better than it sounds, trust us). Just pulverize all this in a blender, don’t juice it.
