Get Ready for Christmas and Count Down the Days with the Phlov Advent Calendar

When Christmas is relentlessly approaching, we start thinking with the big-picture, long-term approach. We obviously have a lot of things on our minds, starting with gifts, through preparing Christmas Eve dishes, and ending with planning meetings with family and friends. It’s a lot for one head, so today I’ll share with you  my solutions for this extraordinary time!

 

First of All: Relationships

 

Not social media ones, of course, but interpersonal relationships. Those with our loved ones, both with family and friends. Although it may seem that we all have our calendars filled to the brim during the holiday season, I know that all is possible if you try. We always find the time for shopping, so why not invite a friend and look for gifts together? Maybe our mom (or mother-in-law) would like to join us, too?

As you may know, multitasking is one of my most important rules in life. If we can listen to a podcast while exercising, or find some time for a healthy fruit smoothie while having a clay mask on our face, why not do the same every day? Let’s look for moments when we can combine work with pleasure. I am sure it will soon turn out that December stress is not so terrible!

 

Secondly: Rituals

When we have a lot of responsibilities, we often feel that there’s always something we have to do or buy, or that we must go somewhere. Constant changes can make you dizzy, that’s why now, even more often than usual, I focus on rituals.

A ritual can be anything we do on a regular basis: putting on your favorite face mask, 10 minutes of dancing when no one is watching, a quarter of an hour of meditation, half an hour with a book, or preparing a healthy evening snack as a family. It’s up to you what gives you a sense of stability, tranquility, and peace!

I go for two options: I always try to find a few minutes for exercise in the morning. It doesn’t have to be strenuous or tiring, but stretching your muscles after a night gives you a boost of energy and stimulates circulation, making it easier to start your day. In the evening, I make sure that I have time for proper care. I don’t complete all the steps from A to Z every day but sometimes all it takes is a minute spent in front of the mirror to know what our skin needs!

After thoroughly removing my makeup and cleaning my face, I pat it dry with a soft towel and just focus on it. I listen to it and try to see what it needs. Is it tight, dry, and irritated? Or does it need exfoliation? Is light hydration enough or do I need to use something extra? Maybe an elixir, a serum, or a night mask? If there are no visible problems, I choose what I feel like. Thanks to this, I know that my skincare, even the simplest, will be tailored to the needs of my skin!

 

Thirdly: the Details

 

Everything we do is made up of little things. That is why they are so important and why it is worth focusing on them sometimes. We should find the time to enjoy simple pleasures every day. Cookies or energy balls prepared at the weekend (preferably together with my loved ones!) from one of my recipes (you can find them HERE) mean that there is something sweet and healthy waiting for me every day. My beloved earrings or ring prepared in the evening make me smile in the morning and I can put them on without the need to look for them. Another idea is a note left on the fridge with a funny or motivating quote that makes you smile.

However, December is this special time of the year when we can enjoy more small pleasures every day because it’s the time of advent calendars! And that is why we have prepared our own Phlov calendar with 24 box-drawers full of surprises for every day of December until Christmas Eve. I can’t wait for December mornings to have a look at the next treat!

We’ve packed plenty of travel size Phlov cosmetics and accessories into this elegant box – it’s so much more than just samples! In addition, in some drawers you will find limited products, developed specially for the calendar. They won’t be available in shops, so this is your only chance to see them. Who knows, maybe someday they will come back in a refreshed edition?

 

Fourthly: Me Time

 

I separate this point from the others because it is particularly important. Rituals, which we can perform on our own, can also be done as a family. That is why it is so important to find a moment just for yourself amongst all the mess that can occur in December.

And in my opinion, there is no better way to find time just for yourself than a real SPA ritual that we can carry out in our own bathroom! I’ll tell you what mine looks like – maybe it will inspire you to find yours!

Of course, I start by cleansing my face of all the makeup and impurities with Absolute Pure(ness) foam. I also light the Phlov scented candle I’m in the mood for and start filling the tub with water. Before it fills up, I do a relaxing face massage with one of the rollers, followed by a Smooth My Skin mask, or two or three masks, depending on what my skin needs (#multimasking!).

I add CarameLOVE SPA  bath oil to warm water and, finally, it’s time to get in the bath. If I’m in the mood for music, I play it softly. If not, I relax in silence, with only the gentle lapping of the water.

After the bath, I like to rinse my body thoroughly, so after emptying the bathtub, I also use a body scrub – either Scrub Me Up!, or CarameLOVE SPA peeling. Now it’s time for your favorite shower gel, rinsing the clay mask, and it’s the end of the bathing part of the ritual. So I’m moving on to facial care.

I usually reach for Very Superberry oil in the winter months – it perfectly nourishes the skin and helps protect it from drying out. I also use Smart Splash, as moisturizing is a must, and without it the skin quickly loses its beautiful, healthy look. Then, the Newborn Star bakuchiol booster, which helps maintain skin firmness and vitality, and finally, the Kisses From The Moon night mask. Thanks to this combination of richness of nutrients, I know that I did everything to make my skin properly cared for and moisturized!

At the end I also put a thick layer of Great-full lips! serum on my lips and I can go to sleep, ready for another day. And if it’s December, I’ll also be looking forward to seeing what’s new in the Phlov advent calendar in the morning!