Daily Quarantine Self-Care Essentials

Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause.

Cecilia Tran

Hi loves. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, quarantine has made the days drag on and it’s become easy for us to wallow in boredom & anxiety. On that note, I’m going to dedicate this blog post to self-care.

Down below, I’m going to list some products and my must haves that have truly helped me maintain my sanity lol. It’s ok if you don’t have some – or any – of these products. Just do you, boo.

• Dark chocolate mocha w/ extra foam.

I absolutely adore dark chocolate, so this beverage is perfect for me. I prefer making my coffee (whether they’re lattes or mochas) with extra foam. So of course it’s how I begin most of my mornings.

I only drink my coffee if it has some sort of sweet addition to it: dark chocolate, cinnamon, white chocolate, vanilla, you name it. Dark chocolate mochas have turned into a fixation of mine that helps me get through the day.

My boyfriend and I took barista courses a bit ago & now we’re in love with coffee. Although he continued taking more advanced classes, I enjoy the simple knowledge I know and happily let him teach me.

It might come as a shocker but unlike most Puerto Ricans, I’m not addicted to caffeine. I actually started drinking coffee once I started college & even then, it’s not very often. I prefer my coffee iced or in the form of a frappuccino. However, since I’m stuck at home in a/c all the time, I’m beginning to drink hot coffee more often.

However, it’s very important to keep in mind that coffee does increase anxiety and prevent a good nights sleep (especially, if you drink it too late). With that being said, if you’re struggling with anxiety or insomnia, it’s important to limit your coffee/caffeine consumption.

• Skincare routine

I’m not a skin care genius like one of my very close friends is, however, I do try my best to nourish my skin. I use this oatmeal & avocado oil clay mask from Walgreens and I use it once a week to help clear my pores and better contain the oils my skin produces.

My skin isn’t really that sensitive and I have combo skin so I really love how my face feels after using this product.

The L’oreal Hydra Genius hydrator is absolutely divine. Incredibly hydrating & your skin absorbs it really well. It’s consistency is very cool and refreshing. I use this product every morning or before I do my makeup as part of my makeup routine. It helps my makeup last longer and for my foundation or tinted moisturizer to really blend into my skin.

• Chapstick

I highly recommend this chapstick if you’re looking for one. I also use the pink Vaseline lip balm occasionally which gives your lips a slight rose-y tint.

• Hair Mask n Oils

I had never used hair masks before but wow, Every Strand Earth Hair Essentials Shea & Coconut Oil hair masque is soooo good and smells heavenly. I apply this hair mask once a week since my hair tends to get oily quickly and I have to wash it every other day.

This hair mask focuses on moisture and hydration. As it says on it’s package, it’s for all hair types and should be applied for 3-5 minutes. If you have oily hair, it’s best to just shampoo your hair and not use conditioner since using both conditioner and the hair mask can provide too much moisture for your hair and make it too oily.

I use about a quarter size of product and apply it generously on the body of my hair and the tips. Then whatever leftover product I have in my hand, which is usually a small amount, I massage it gently into my scalp.

After washing my hair, whether I use the hair mask or not, I always apply the Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Oil with Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter to the tips of my hair to help repair my split ends/damaged hair and avoid tangling.

This oil is so wonderful I could cry lol. Just like the hair mask, this product also smells amazing. I add around two pumps into the palm of my hand and massage it through my tips.

• Fragrance

Yeah, I know, coconut again?

This fragrance mist is perfect for summertime and it honestly makes me happy just to spray a bit on my body. It’s one of my favorite perfumes and, even though I’m not going anywhere special other than the kitchen, just smelling good boosts my mood and makes me feel so nice and pampered.

And of course we all deserve that feeling. This mist also has a lotion but I ran out of it. 😦 It’s equally as good tho.

• Messy Hair & Baggy Shirt

I honestly think that every woman in the world is rocking this look lol. Baggy t-shirts, bralette or bra-less and sweats are a staple this season all thanks to coronavirus.

But honestly, what’s better than wearing baggy clothing, not having to worry about anyone seeing your messy hair and not having to wear makeup?

I’m sure that the only wardrobe change that most of us do is from one pajama into another lol. Or maybe that’s just me…

• Electronic Devices

This chapter of my life that has affected what used to be my daily routine has really allowed me to take a breather & invest in activities that stimulate the more creative part of me.

I’ve found myself using my iPad and social media much more often than I used to to cultivate things that bring me peace and allow me to share my thoughts and passions with you all.

On the other hand, I’ve also been using my electronic devices a lot more due to extensive college work lol. Nonetheless, I try to enjoy every minute of it and allow myself breaks between college work and my household duties.

Online streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu & Disney + have been entertaining company these past few weeks. I’ve also been playing a lot of Animal Crossing on my Nintendo Switch and frankly, I’m obsessed with that game.

Watching videos on Youtube that teach me more about things I’m passionate about & listening to music that inspires me is such a great way to keep my mind distracted in a productive way as well.

• Alarms

Setting alarms to start off my day bright and early has helped me feel more productive and allows me to get more things done throughout the day.

As soon as I wake up, the first thing I do is make my bed and prepare myself for the day: skin care routine, breakfast, etc. The sense of accomplishment this offers feels really nice since I feel like I have less things to do.

Sometimes when I wake up late, the day flies by and I feel like there’s not enough time in the day for me to do all the things that are on my to-do list. That’s why most days, I have my alarm set for 8:00 a.m.

Obviously there are mornings when I just want to sleep in and that’s alright too. Like I said in the beginning, it’s important to take care of yourself and give yourself a break.

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I hope you all enjoyed tonight’s blog post. Remember, practice self-care and make it the most important part of your life. Because it is.

With love,

j.