10 Self Care Items That’s Getting Me Through Quarantine
If you told me on January 1st, 2020, that I’d be spending almost a year with 90% of my life being spent in my studio apartment, I would have asked for your plug’s info.
I’m writing this on January 14th, approximately 10 months after New Jersey issued a stay at home order that has not been fully lifted. I’ve been working from home full time since early March. My gym closed shortly after (although it reopened sometime in the fall). Indoor dining stopped, then became limited. Beauty services/spa treatments stopped, then became limited as well.. Here are 7 items that stopped me from losing my mind during these months inside. You can shop most of these items off my Amazon storefront.
thisworks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray ($29 USD) - One of the biggest things I’ve struggled with doing since the stay at home order hit was sleep. Ironic because I have this big ass, comfortable queen sized bed in the middle of my apartment. Since I’ve been staying indoors for prolonged periods of time my sleep schedule has been all over the place. I’ve tried taking melatonin supplements but they gave me nightmares (a known side effect!). Thanks to my handy dandy Soror, Adri, I got put onto this pillow spray. I was super skeptical that a spray would truly be a sleep aid because I sleep with an oil diffuser and while I love the aromatherapy, it definitely doesn’t put me to sleep. This spray works wonders, especially when I pair it with my weighted blanket. It’s a super-blend of lavender, chamomile, and vetivert (an herb that helps promote nervous system health). It hits out of nowhere and I sleep through the night without waking up with that groggy feeling. 10/10.
IxoraBB Donkey Milk Facial Cleanser ($20 USD) *Black woman owned*- The maskne has been TOO real. My face has been so sensitive, my acne has been flaring up more than ever before. Wearing masks, especially when I exercise because of the sweat and humidity baking under there, bacteria had a field day on me. My skin barrier also suffered from unusual sensitivity which intensified when the winter hit. I had to switch my skincare regimen from exfoliants and heavy active ingredients to calming and hydrating products. I got my hands on a bar of donkey milk soap and it changed the game for me. My skin barrier has never felt better. Donkey milk is incredible for inflammation featuring key ingredients like omega 3, omega 6, and amino acids that aid in skin barrier repair. My aggressive redness and tender pimples on my cheeks and forehead has calmed down tremendously since I’ve started using it. This is great for eczema, hormonal acne, and dry skin sufferers as well!
MykSilk 100% Silk Pillowcases ($27.99 USD) - I have natural, tightly coiled, hair. I started taking my natural hair journey seriously since COVID hit and I lost access to my alternative (protective) stylers. When salons opened back up I went to a natural hair specialist (D. Simone Artistry, aka the GOATs!) who walked me through everything I have been doing wrong since I’ve gone natural about 5 years ago. Since I’ve seen Danielle, I’ve been wearing my hair in a twistout afro in between wash days (every 7-10 … but really 7 .. days). Normally I sleep with my hair in a satin or silk bonnet but because my hair is so big, my fro would be a dented in the morning even after I’ve picked and fluffed it out. To get the same benefit of sleeping with silk around your hair (preventing moisture loss, breakage, and denting), I ordered silk pillowcases. This gives me the same benefit of silk bonnets on hair with the added bonus of sleeping on silk for your skin - prevents moisture loss and wrinkles! We love a 2 in 1. Absolutely worth it.
Erin & Avery Rooted Candle ($32 USD)*Black woman owned* - Aromatherapy gets me through my never ending virtual workdays. I always have some sort of fragrance flowing through my crib whether it’s my oil diffuser, incense burning, or a candle. Candles are my favorite because I can turn it on, see the flame for a calming effect, and not have to worry about it burning out as I go about my business for the day. This candle smells to die for. Not only is it beautiful, the scent isn’t overbearing yet it fills up the room. The coconut undertones gives your space a homely feel. I love the mango variant as a wake me up for the day.
Necessaire Body Wash ($25 USD) - Bath time has become my favorite part of a day inside. I love beauty and personal care. From caring for the skin on my body in the shower and and post shower care with my body serums and oils, moving on to facial skincare, and finishing it off with haircare - I can spend up to an hour on my nightly self care regimen. This body wash not only smells amazing (the eucalyptus scent is my favorite), but it’s improved the texture of my skin as well. My skin is much more hydrated and slightly more even toned. It features ingredients like niacinamide for skin toning and hydration as well as calming green tea leaf extract and skin strengthening glycerin. This is a great body wash for those who suffer with body acne and the fragrance free version is great for eczema sufferers.
The Wrap Life Bandie ($16 USD) - Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been wearing my hair natural for the majority of the stay at home order. When I need to push my fro out my face so my face doesn’t break out and when I’m too lazy to brush my hair when I tie my hair back - The Wrap Life’s bandies has been my go to hair accessory. I wear them a LOT. I’m on video calls all day and I don’t have the time to be dealing with slicking my hair down if it’s not in a fro. When I’m at the gym, I need to be able to work out with my fro without worrying about getting hair stuck to my face. These bandies come in super cute colors that go with everything. They’re also very low tension, so no damaged edges.
Neccesaire Sex Gel ($20 USD) - Let’s be real .. I’m 23 years old, single, locked inside my studio apartment. A bitch has needs. My dating life has been completely put on pause so I’ve had to get to know myself better and indulge in self pleasure to fight those urges. This is a water based lubricant, which is way more pH balance safe, with ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, and distilled deionized water. It doesn’t irritate my (very sensitive) coochie and it gets the job done before my natural waters hit. You can ALSO use it as a moisturizing serum. I use this serum down south after I get a wax as a hydrating and calming serum to prevent ingrowns and irritation post wax.
Zenni Blue Light Blocker Glasses (dependent on frame) - Blue light blocker glasses are necessary for work from home’rs. Whether you have 20/20 vision or impaired vision, excessive screen time (phones, laptops, televisions, iPads .. all things we’ve been heavily using since we’ve been staying home) can take a toll on your well being. I realized the excessive screen time was affecting me when I had an increase of debilitating migraines, easily disrupted sleep, sore eyes, and dry eye. I already love Zenni for it’s affordable prescription glasses, but their Blokz blue light protection add on made their glasses so much better. You can order them with prescription or non prescription lenses. Having that filter between my eyes and the blue light off screens has helped me scroll on Twitter for hours, #unbotheredaf.
Posture Corrector Brace ($18.99 USD) - My posture has never been my strong suit. I’m 5’11” so I’m constantly hunching down. Pre-COVID I was seeing a chiropractor once a week. Then the office closed during the total shut down. Because I don’t have a home office in my apartment, I mostly work off my bed or my sofa. I sleep in weird positions because I’m up on my phone all night. All of this has led to me having terrible upper shoulder and neck pains. My chiropractor recommended I use this posture correcting brace since he couldn’t treat me in person for a while and it completely changed the game. It pushes my shoulder back, propping me up with my spine erect and it takes all the pressure off my shoulders. I try to wear it about an hour a day to alleviate my shoulders and train myself to have better posture.
Diligence Training Adjustable Glute Resistance Band ($25 USD) *Black owned* - My gym was closed down for a good amount of the past 10 months. Pre-COVID I was going to the gym at least 3 times a week with access to all the tools of the trade I needed to keep my figure right. When the pandemic hit, I went from having a gym at my job, apartment building, and town to limiting fitness to the confines of my studio apartment and outside. To help keep myself toned, I stuck to following YouTube videos, my friend Cairo’s amazing online workout guide, cardio (I love to go running outside), and resistance band training. I had rubber resistance bands from Amazon, but I hated how it would ride up my legs or snap. It was cheaply made and annoying to work out with. I didn’t feel like I was doing much when using it. I switched to Diligence Training’s cloth resistance band and it’s thicker, tougher, and provides way better resistance. These don’t ride up or move and will give your ass something to sweat about. Plus the camo print is super cute, LOL.
What are some things that are helping you get by during these times? I’ve been trying so many random things to help myself stay entertained while I’m staying home, alone. I hope everyone is mentally holding it down. Give yourself grace, you are literally surviving a major historical event.
Cheers,
Kahina