5 self-love rituals for inside-out beauty for Valentine's Day & beyond
While Valentine's Day focusses on romantic love, surely the most powerful love story should be the way you feel about yourself. So, with this in mind, why not embrace self-love? After all, true beauty comes from within and radiating inner calm and happiness is such a lovable characteristic.
According to mental health charity MIND's The Big Mental Health Report 2024*, 1 in 4 of us in England will experience a mental health problem at some point each year, 9 in 10 adults have experienced high levels of stress at various times and the data suggests that adults and young people say their well-being is getting worse. So, allowing yourself to self-love has never been more important.
Self-appreciation, in terms of the deeper meaning, encompasses so many aspects of life, from creating spa-like experiences in the comfort of your home to nurturing your mind, body and soul with exercise and good nutrition. Here, we're sharing five transformative self-love rituals you can follow for a glow-up from the inside out - not just for Valentine's Day, for every day.
Follow our self-love rituals for inside-out beauty all year long
What is self-love?
Self-love is all about showing respect, appreciation, acceptance and care for yourself. If you can understand and embrace your own value and worth, you can be your best self in life. With a positive and realistic view of yourself, you'll have a healthier self-esteem and feel happier for it.
Internal dialogue (the conversation you have with yourself in your mind) plays a vital role in shaping your emotional well-being, self-esteem and overall mindset
Why self-esteem is key
How to build confidence and self-worth
Self-esteem plays a fundamental role in shaping the way we see ourselves and how we engage with the world around us. It's intrinsically linked to self-love as this can influence our decisions, confidence and well-being.
If you practice self-care and self-compassion, this will ultimately reduce negative thoughts. And, once you've identified any negative self-perception you do have, you can break free from self-doubt patterns and continue to develop a positive self-image.
Self-care: the benefits
How to nourish your mind, body and soul
If you prioritise self-love in your life, you can reduce stress and improve low self-esteem and your overall mental health. This is a great way to make you more motivated and enhance your emotional well-being.
The practice of self-love is a brilliant way to nourish your mind, body and soul. Once you have a more positive self-image and self-compassion, these aspects will help to enrich every part of your life.
Invest in yourself with regular exercise and be gentle with yourself during tough times
How to recognise when self-love is lacking
Negative signs to look for
Happiness plays an important role in self-love, so if self-criticism or doubt and negative thoughts about yourself regularly feature in your life, these are common signs that need to be addressed so you will feel good again. Taking care of yourself, having some self-belief and recognising these moments should start your journey towards discovering self-love and self-compassion.
5 of our favourite self-love rituals
1. Transform your daily routine into a spa-like experience
If you want to enhance self-love, why not transform your daily routine into a soothing, spa-style experience at home? Calming your mind and lifting your soul can start simply with a morning and evening facial and body beauty ritual, which will nurture your skin, too.
Start with a refreshing cleanser and eye make-up remover, don't forget the toner, add a nourishing moisturiser and stop for a moment of mindfulness. This will all help towards your ‘setting a positive tone’ goal and with a spritz in the air you are uplifted and good to go!
In the evenings, relax and unwind with a warm bath. Run a warm bath with a bath soak or oil then lie back, relax with your favourite scented candle and listen to calming music. Gently exfoliate to deeply cleanse and add a relieving balm to calm your body and mind. Don't forget to add relaxing music and soft candlelight to embrace self-love and create your full inner harmony.
2. Set healthy goals with nourishing food
You are what you eat...so show care and respect for your body inside and out with healthy foods for an easy act of self-love. Picking nutrient-rich foods will give your body all the vitamins and minerals it needs to boost your energy levels, help you achieve glowing skin and enhance your well-being.
Now's a great time to incorporate a balanced diet into your healthy living regime - it's all about taking care of yourself with fresh fruit, veggies, lean proteins and healthy fats. Your mind and body will thank you for it as this will boost your mood, aid digestion and improve mental clarity.
Kick-start your day with a bowl of oats, fresh fruit and coconut milk - you mind, body and soul will thank you for it!
A balanced diet and the way in which you react to food can help to reinforce your own self-worth, so you feel good about yourself. Mindful eating is a great practice - savour each mouthful and you'll appreciate the nourishment for a good start of your day.
3. Let's get physical
An easy way to boost self-love is with physical activity - why not try a low-impact exercise such as Pilates?
Taking regular exercise is a great way to boost self-love as moving your body releases endorphins, which reduces stress and lifts your mood. Pick an activity you can dedicate time to and you think you'll enjoy, from Pilates or dancing to walking or cycling and stick with it. Physical activities increase energy levels, improve posture and build self-confidence. You'll discover just what your body is capable of and feel good about it, which will deepen your sense of self-love.
4. Mindfulness and meditation
Develop a deeper connection with yourself and embrace these tools. With mindfulness, you'll feel a sense of inner peace and become more aware of your thoughts and emotions. There are plenty of apps you can try such as Portal.
Meditation teaches you to break away from negative self-talk and allows your thoughts to wash over you without judgement. It creates a space for self-compassion and reflection and improves self-worth over time. If you can spare just a few minutes a day and focus on the present moment, you'll embrace yourself, feel worthy and notice that past regrets and future worry will fade away.
5. Set healthy boundaries
You can protect your well-being and practice self-love if you set boundaries in your life. If you find people, commitments or situations draining, learn to say no to them, so you can concentrate on your personal growth. You deserve to value yourself, and surrounding yourself with people who offer support and are uplifting can leave you feeling empowered.
Creating other boundaries, such as limiting time spent on social media and moving away from negativity in your life, will give you a strong sense of purpose and give you the time to practice self-love for deeper joy and fulfilment.
Limit the time you spend on social media to protect your emotional and mental well-being
Celebrate your individuality
How to embrace the unique to practice self-love
Self-acceptance, in terms of who you are, is a great way to cultivate self-love. Once you accept your individuality, you can be your authentic self which can lead to a more positive self-image.
External validation is overrated and, if you can recognise and embrace what makes you different, this can help to prevent negative self-perception. As a result, you'll feel more confident and, when you can accept yourself and all your unique qualities, this will lead to a deeper love for yourself. Body positivity and appreciating your strengths will also improve your self-image and encourage others to feel the same about you.
Being open to self-love
How to love oneself within a daily routine
If you can create a regular self-love routine you can easily incorporate into your daily life, this can be transformative. Many of the rituals, such as the self-care activities mentioned above, are easy to incorporate into your everyday. You can also set aside a little time to practice positive affirmations - this can be a great way to remind yourself of your strengths and self-belief. A self-love routine itself shouldn't take up too much of your time - it's all about creating consistency.
Maintaining your mental health
What's the connection between self-love and mental health?
Practicing self-love will benefit your mental health as this reduces stress and anxiety. If you harbour negative thoughts, you'll notice these feelings and emotions melting away. Self-care should play an important part of your life every single day so you can deal with mental health challenges with an improved mindset. This way, you can foster a healthier relationship with yourself.
So, this Valentine's Day, make self-love a priority in your life not just for the day, but all year long. Consistency will be key but if you make small changes with self-love rituals, this transformative practice will help you to recognise that you deserve to feel valued with positive relationships and a life filled with happiness and self-worth.
