Self-care is a necessary part of making sure we stay healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally. To entrepreneur and content creator Sasha Exeter, alone time is as crucial as ever. Here she shares her self-care routine, skin care tips, and advice for modern moms.
As an extremely busy entrepreneur and mother, how do you manage to take time for yourself? Do you find it difficult to find time for self-care?
Since becoming a mother three years ago, I’ve found it difficult to take time for myself but I’ve also learned how important it is to make time for myself. Time’s quite limited as a busy entrepreneur and single mother, as you can imagine. What’s worked for me has been to schedule this time into my calendar just like I would with any work meeting. Workouts, massage treatments, bubble baths, meditation — it all has to be scheduled into my weekly calendar because, just like a meeting, I wouldn’t cancel it.
Sundays have become my “me day” to do nothing but recharge so I can take on another week without having the Sunday Scaries. I call it #SelfCareSundays and it’s my day to do face masks, bubble baths, read, get a massage, and anything else my body and soul craves that day.
Does your skin care routine change in the winter months?
Most definitely. My skin care routine often changes from week to week based on factors like the weather, environmental factors, how hydrated I am, and my diet. The winter months are extra tough on my skin because cold weather, wind, and the dry air in a condo is an unkind trio to aging skin, so I put extra effort into my skin care routine during this season.
What are your top tips for winter skin care?
During these months, I like to focus on extra exfoliation to get rid of the extra sebum and dead skin cell build-up and buff my skin. Hydration from the inside out is also key. I drink approximately a gallon of water a day and love to use products in my routine that will topically boost hydration. Adding products with active ingredients has also improved my skin’s firmness and radiance while helping to reduce wrinkles.
How has your skin changed since becoming a mom?
Believe it or not, my skin changed for the better during my pregnancy with my son Maxwell. Prior to that, I’d always had acne-prone skin and could always count on a pre-menstrual breakout. When I got pregnant, I virtually stopped getting the occasional blemish and breakout. The pregnancy glow stayed with me postpartum for some reason — and trust me, I’m not complaining about it. My skin is brighter, firmer, and more radiant than it’s ever been, most likely because I’ve been paying closer attention to how I eat, hydrate, and choose products that target issues for aging skin.
What advice do you have for moms on maintaining healthy skin as their bodies change?
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You can use the best products in the world in your skin care routine, but if you’re not nourishing yourself from the inside out, none of the topical stuff matters. Use a face mask treatment to exfoliate, detox, and unclog pores one to two times per week. Find a toner or clarifying lotion that works for your skin to deep clean and refine your pores after cleansing, and remember to apply a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day.
