I recently asked my close friend what she would have done differently when she was working through her busy season of being a single mom to two young boys while working long hours to keep them afloat. Her reflective answer on that very overwhelming and slight depressive stage of her life gave me deep insight into what I think most women overlook. Themselves.

She said that she might have had more energy for her life if she made more of an effort to take time for herself. She said that now that she’s looking back, she can see that she let herself down by not showing up for herself.

So let me share my simple habit-stacking beauty routine that will keep you polished during any season of life. You can make this as simple or elaborate as you wish, but I believe that simplicity is what keeps us showing up for ourselves.

What Is A Good Beauty Routine?

The truth is, every woman’s answer will look a little different, but in my humble opinion, a really good self-care routine is one that you can financially afford and that you can stick to… most of the time. Something to keep in mind is that if something is easy to utilise, it’s more likely to get done. And making small alternative decisions throughout the week will show results in the long term.

Here’s how I’ve structured my beauty routine so it feels simple, sustainable, and doable in real life.

Maintaining a Beauty Routine When You’re Overwhelmed

Keep in mind that I do not like to schedule tasks on specific days. I function best when I have a rough guide for when things need to get done. For example, I do my own nails every other week, but I do not have a scheduled day. If you need structure, schedule it. If you prefer to wing it, set aside time each week to care for yourself. Otherwise, life will flow right past you.

By knowing how my days run I can roughly plan what needs doing on my body and here is how I fit it into my day.

Habit-Stacking Shower Routine

I do a lot of my self-care in the shower. I do not do these things every day, or on the same day, only when I think it needs doing. The best is that it doesn’t add a lot of additional time to my shower.

I keep various products in the shower available for me to use. For example, a pumice stone for my feet, treatment or mask for my hair, scrub for my face and a razor.

Let me share a personal story from my early childhood. I can still see my grandmother sit in the bath scrubbing her heels with a stone that I am sure she had all her life. I think of her every time I scrub my heels. She taught me most of what I know about my beauty routine.

What else did she teach me? …She taught me that small, consistent actions add up and I carry that with me to this day.

Simple Beauty Maintenance You Can Do Anywhere

I keep my lash tint & lip wax close by to do a quick wax or lash tint before showering, especially for blondes, since brows can look extremely pale if left untinted.

When I dry my feet after a shower, I quickly run the towel over the cuticles of my toes to keep them pushed back.

And in the evening when I unwind before switching off the light, I keep the following inside my bedside table to be able to do some extra things. If you do not spend time in bed to unwind, then keep these items where you would sit and relax every evening.

In my bedside table I keep a file for heels and nails, cream for hands and cuticles, Vaseline for my lips, and a pair of tweezers. I’ve put together a free printable checklist that you can keep by your bedside or bathroom mirror. It’s my exact step-by-step routine to help you stay consistent, even on busy weeks. Download it here and start feeling more polished today.

My Encouragement

When I feel like I’m drowning in the overwhelm of everyday life, with a to-do list that never ends, I’m grateful for the one thing I can do on autopilot, my simple beauty routine. It has the biggest impact on how I feel about myself, and it fits perfectly into my busy life, no matter how tight things get.

For me, it’s less about a complicated full beauty routine that takes hours, and more about letting it flow naturally into my weekly routine. I habit stack small actions into everyday routines. This way I hit most of the areas that keep me looking like I have my act together and it leaves me feeling confident. Even if I have to take my shoes off unexpectedly.

Keep on reading:

❤️ Stop Setting Goals Like This. It’s Why You’re Still Exhausted

❤️ Why Simple Routines Fail for Overwhelmed Women (It’s Not Discipline)

❤️ Goal Setting for Busy Women: The One Goal Method

Here’s to finding calm in the chaos. Until next time,

ChanDrew ❤️