How to Create a Self-Care Ritual with Ange Yu
A self-care ritual is built from the small habits that ground your day. Here at LUI, we love the idea of rituals: those little everyday practices that help you feel calm, centred and whole. We believe shaving deserves to be part of this self-care routine. In celebration of mindful moments, the LUI Ritual series asks friends of the brand about their own positive habits and how they elevate their day. This time, we caught up with Ange Yu.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Ange's morning self-care ritual starts with a workout, usually Pilates, then a hot shower and LUI Body Moisturiser.
- She keeps both her face and body moisturised, morning and night.
- Small joys ground her day: her partner, a good playlist or podcast, and her dogs.
- She winds down after work by walking the dogs and cooking dinner.
- Her evening ritual is a double cleanse, a quick facial massage, a hot shower and night skincare.
HI, MY NAME IS… Ange Yu.
BUT EVERYONE CALLS ME… Ange :-)
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I DREAMED OF BEING… I was never that kid who knew exactly what they wanted to be, but knew I wanted it to be something creative.
BUT NOW I WORK AS… a bit of everything: Studio Program Manager at Broadsheet Media, Social Media Specialist at Melbourne Place, and a model.
THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I WAKE UP IS… check my phone. I know, I know, no screens for the first hour or however the saying goes.
THE LAST SONG I PLAYED ON SPOTIFY… 'Fade Into You' by Sega Bodega & Eartheater.
MY MORNING ROUTINE IS…
- Fight the urge to hit snooze.
- Get ready for a workout. I wash my face with just water in the morning, then get some toner, moisturiser, and SPF on.
- Most mornings, I'll head to Pilates, and I go between reformer and hot mat.
- Back home and make myself a coffee in my trusty AeroPress. Ten years going strong.
- Get ready properly for the day. A hot shower to wash off the workout, followed by LUI's Body Moisturiser, then my morning skincare routine. (It's important to keep both your face and body moisturised!).
THE PERFUME I SPRAY ON RIGHT BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… ooh, this changes depending on my mood and what I'm wearing. But my current rotation includes: Whisky by Perdrisat or Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle (mainly). Sometimes AnOther 13 by Le Labo.
MY COFFEE ORDER IS… a batch brew.
THROUGHOUT MY DAY I FIND JOY IN… all the little things: a kiss from my partner, "this is us" memes from friends, a good playlist, a good podcast, writing a kickass email.
MY LUNCH ORDER IS… a salad of some description. Currently I'm loving miso chicken with a cabbage slaw, quinoa and cucumber.
MY 3 PM PICK-ME-UP IS… something sweet, a bikkie or chocolate.
AFTER A LONG DAY, I SWITCH OFF BY… feels counterintuitive, but cooking dinner for my partner and me. Generally, with Jagger our Cavalier by my feet. He's my sous / Head of Veggie Scraps.
THE LAST BOOK I COULDN'T PUT DOWN… Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.
MY NIGHTTIME ROUTINE IS…
- Walk the dogs, Chino and Jagger.
- Then, we cleanse: a double cleanse followed by a quick facial massage. I like to use my knuckles to gently massage my jaw. Followed by a hot shower.
- Night skincare routine which looks something like this: retinol, toner, hydrating serum, moisturiser.
- Unwind with my partner and our dogs. We'll catch up on our day and watch a show together.
THE LAST THING I DO BEFORE BED IS… check my alarm is on for the next day (even though it's scheduled to come on every day).
YOU CAN FIND ME ONLINE AT… @APLUSYU.
RELATED READING
Keep building your ritual with HOW TO CREATE A RELAXING BATH AT HOME, SPRING CLEAN YOUR BODY CARE ROUTINE, and A GUIDE TO THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS WE USE IN OUR BODY CARE PRODUCTS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a self-care ritual?
A self-care ritual is a set of small, regular habits, like movement, skincare and time to yourself, that help you feel calm, centred and whole.
What does a simple daily self-care ritual include?
It often includes a gentle start with movement, morning skincare with moisturiser and SPF, small pauses for joy through the day, and an evening wind-down with cleansing, body care and time to switch off.
How do you start a self-care ritual?
Start small and attach it to habits you already have, like applying body moisturiser after your morning shower. Keeping it enjoyable is what makes a self-care ritual stick.
Should body care be part of a self-care ritual?
Yes. Taking time over moisturising, exfoliating and shaving turns everyday body care into a calming ritual, and helps keep skin healthy, smooth and hydrated.
Why should you moisturise both your face and body?
As Ange says, it's important to keep both your face and body moisturised. The skin on your body needs the same hydration and care as your face.