As winter comes and we start spending more time indoors, keeping a clean home becomes a key part of self-care. It’s not just about tidiness—it’s creating a space where you feel at peace. Simple habits, like washing your hands when you walk through the door and swapping into house clothes, can help keep germs at bay. Your home is your sanctuary, and maintaining it as a place that feels safe and welcoming is exactly why this part of self-care means so much to Ciara Rayshall. It’s about nurturing both your space and your well-being.
Ciara and her partner have a blended family – three teenagers age 14-16 and a two-year-old! To keep her home a sanctuary, Ciara delegates chores so everyone contributes to the household as part of a team.
Many women in our lives may have appeared less kind or nicer than we would have liked, but Ciara attributes that to exhaustion as they clean the entire house on their own. Teaching children responsibility provides practical life skills and shows how to care for yourself.
The definition of self-care has expanded since Ciara was a teenager, when she was more focused on superficial beauty of hair and nails. She was always protective of her energy and emotions, aware of self-preservation. After becoming a mom and growing into her 30s, beauty evolved to a much deeper level; it became a fuller understanding that self-care is what you eat, the music you listen to, the people who surround you, and how a home is kept.
That’s not to say that looking and feeling good is not important to self-care! Eating foods that are nutrient rich with vitamins like C, B, and A promotes clear skin and shiny hair and nails. Ciara encourages her family to have vegetables and fruit with every meal. Staying away from processed foods strengthens the body’s immune system.
She is mindful of where she shops and takes advantage of co-ops for local produce. Buying local produce offers many health benefits, such as providing more dense nutrition, eating seasonal foods that promote a more balanced diet, and fruits and vegetables that are more flavorful and nutritious when harvested closer to peak ripeness.
Ciara gets her teenagers to eat more vegetables through her signature green smoothie, which contains spinach, kale, pineapple, and apple with fresh-pressed apple juice. She teaches them to care for themselves through what they put into their bodies.
Ciara also shares a bit of wisdom about organic food: Look for a food’s PLU code. If the number starts with a “9,” then the produce was grown organically.
Fresher produce also provides good-for-you skincare. Ciara likes to use bananas, matcha, avocados, and turmeric for her DIY face masks, recently picking up spirulina at the co-op market to try out a new recipe. Her favorite base for her masks is Indian healing clay. She looks for ingredients that have key nutrients, saying, “If they are good for my body, they are good for my face!” Rarely does Ciara use drugstore face masks because of the added fragrances and preservatives.
Those of us with kids at home can sometimes feel hopeless of ever finding the time to incorporate self-care into our routines. Delegating responsibilities can be part of that solution, but it’s also crucial to have a plan. Ciara intentionally sets herself up for the week on Sundays, identifying the top 3-4 things she wants to accomplish each day so she can have a self-care day, which can be as simple as turning off her phone, taking a nap, going for a walk, journaling, or watching her favorite show. Ciara even brings her two-year-old daughter into the things she loves to do, such as meditating and yoga, so she teaches wellness by example.
Ciara advocates for being aware of the signs of seasonal depression as we prepare for the inevitable long winter months ahead. It is easy to feel down when it’s cold and daylight hours are shorter. “A way we care for ourselves is caring for our hobbies and caring for our creativity.” Ciara recommends finding a community around hobbies or the things you like to do and meet regularly with them. Or be intentional about “My Winter” and learn something new. Having a group to share joy and laughter can help you care for yourself in these upcoming winter months!
“I used to think ‘self-care’ meant DIY face masks, pedicures, & homemade coffee scrubs... Then I realized it can be that, but it is also much more. It is loving my face in the morning and again in a room full of beautiful women. Complimenting my stretch marks and praising my edges after a workout. Celebrating my small win on Monday and not shaming myself for missing the mark on Friday. Giggling at my ‘blonde’ moments when no one else does, knowing I’m funny because I said I am. It’s living out what I deserve and being truly kind to myself. It’s not settling just to say I have a material possession. It’s obeying the law of karma. It’s saying what I feel. It’s being patient and kicking those thoughts of comparison out of my head with courage! It’s asking for help, or space, or boundaries. It’s not proving, but simply being. It’s saying my own name aloud just to hear the sound of it. It’s me in full mess up, trusting that even my fails are written to progress me. It’s sleeping.”
Ciara’s Homemade Cough Syrup
Onions, lemon, garlic, ginger, honey and ginger turmeric tea, mix together and set overnight – it works wonders!
Easy Three Ingredient Moisturizing Winter Face Mask
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon spirulina powder
2 tablespoon Indian healing clay
1-3 tablespoons oat milk (until desired mask consistency)
Optional: 1 teaspoon honey or aloe vera gel
Instructions:
1. Mix ingredients to form a paste.
2. Apply to face, avoiding eye area.
3. Relax for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water.
5. Pat dry and moisturize.
Spirulina Benefits
Indian Healing Clay, or Bentonite Clay, offers a multitude of benefits for the skin, making it a powerhouse in skincare routines. Rich in antioxidants, it protects the skin from damage caused by free radicals while its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness and inflammation. This clay boosts collagen production, which can minimize fine lines and wrinkles, contributing to its anti-aging effects. Additionally, it detoxifies by drawing out impurities and toxins, purifying and unclogging pores while absorbing excess oil, thus reducing acne and preventing breakouts. The hydrating qualities of the clay lock in moisture, softening and smoothing the skin, while also brightening the complexion by evening skin tone and reducing the appearance of dark spots. Furthermore, it improves skin elasticity and balances the skin's natural pH, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to soothe irritation and redness while achieving a healthier, more radiant complexion.
Oat Milk Benefits
Oat milk is an excellent addition to skincare, offering numerous benefits for the skin. It soothes and calms irritated skin, effectively reducing inflammation and redness while providing deep hydration and moisture to dry areas. Its gentle exfoliating properties help soften the skin, making it feel smoother and more refreshed. Oat milk also acts as a protective barrier against environmental stressors, which can contribute to skin damage. Rich in antioxidants, including avenanthramides and phenolic acids, it helps neutralize free radicals and reduce puffiness and irritation, making it an ideal ingredient for maintaining a healthy and radiant complexion.
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