5 weekend rituals to follow to defeat ageing

Time of India

12 hours ago

Elevate your weekend skincare with five powerful rituals designed to nourish and rejuvenate. Incorporate facial massages with oils, DIY masks, and dry brushing for radiant skin. Prioritize scalp and foot care, alongside unplugging, meditating, and prioritizing sleep to combat stress and promote a youthful glow from the inside out.
In today's fast-paced world, our skin often bears the brunt of stress, pollution, and lack of proper self-care. And while daily skincare routines do their job, weekends present a golden opportunity to go deeper - to nourish, repair, and truly reset.
By embracing these five powerful weekend rituals, you can slow down the clock and glow from the inside out.
Start with a face massage using facial oils or Gua Sha
A weekend facial massage is like a mini spa at home. It helps stimulate lymphatic drainage, improve blood circulation, and boost collagen production - all of which contribute to firmer, younger-looking skin. Use antioxidant-rich facial oils like rosehip, marula, or squalane to glide your fingers or tools effortlessly across your face.
Want to go the extra mile? Incorporate a Gua Sha or jade roller into your ritual. These tools not only help sculpt your face and reduce puffiness, but they also encourage deeper product penetration. Spend 10–15 minutes gently massaging your face in upward strokes, especially around the jawline, cheeks, and under the eyes. Over time, this weekly ritual can soften fine lines and improve skin elasticity.
Indulge in a DIY face and hair mask combo
Weekends are perfect for those 30–40 minutes of masking that we often skip during the week.
For your skin, opt for masks with anti-ageing ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or niacinamide. A DIY mix of honey, yoghurt, and turmeric can brighten dull skin and soothe inflammation, key factors in slowing ageing.
Simultaneously, give your hair some love. Apply a deep-conditioning mask made with coconut oil, aloe vera gel, and a few drops of rosemary or peppermint essential oil to stimulate growth and restore moisture.
Massage into the scalp and cover with a warm towel for maximum absorption.
As your skin and hair soak in goodness, use the downtime to relax with a calming tea or read something inspirational. Beauty is holistic, and this moment of pause matters just as much as the products you apply.
Dry brush and detox with a warm bath
D brushing is a centuries-old Ayurvedic ritual that boosts circulation, exfoliates dead skin, and supports lymphatic drainage. Using a natural bristle brush, stroke your skin in upward motion starting from the feet and moving toward the heart.
Just 5–7 minutes before your bath can make a huge difference in improving skin tone and texture.
Follow this with a warm detox bath. Add Epsom salts, a few drops of lavender or geranium essential oil, and some baking soda to the water. Not only will this relax sore muscles and promote better sleep, but it also helps your body eliminate toxins—something that plays a direct role in how youthful your skin appears. Soak for 20–25 minutes, then moisturise with a nourishing body oil or lotion while your skin is still slightly damp.
Prioritise scalp and foot care
Ageing doesn't just show up on your face, it starts with neglect in areas we often forget, like the scalp and feet. Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp, and a weekend scalp detox is the perfect fix. Use a clarifying shampoo or scalp scrub to remove product buildup and dead skin cells. Follow with a nourishing oil like amla or castor oil for regeneration.
Your feet, meanwhile, carry you all week, so give them the ritual they deserve.
Soak them in warm water with Himalayan salt and lemon, then scrub gently with a pumice stone. Apply a thick layer of moisturising foot cream or ghee and wear cotton socks overnight. Consistent foot care boosts circulation and can even promote better sleep, an underrated anti-ageing hero.
Unplug, meditate, and sleep in
All the serums in the world won't work if your nervous system is on overdrive. Chronic stress accelerates ageing, so weekends should be your sanctuary for deep relaxation and mental reset.
Start your Saturday or Sunday morning with 10 minutes of guided meditation, breathwork, or yoga nidra to lower cortisol levels.
Also, let yourself sleep in. A solid 8-9 hours of sleep is when your skin regenerates, your hormones rebalance, and your body heals. Invest in a silk pillowcase and sleep with your hair tied in a loose braid to prevent breakage and sleep lines on your face.
And don't forget to hydrate from within.
Start your day with warm water infused with lemon and a few tulsi or mint leaves. It gently detoxifies your system and gets your skin off to a fresh, glowing start.
Ageing is inevitable, but how you age is in your hands, literally. These five weekend rituals aren't just feel-good add-ons; they are deeply nourishing habits that support your body, calm your mind, and let your natural beauty shine. When practiced regularly, they become your invisible armour against dullness, sagging, and fatigue, leaving you feeling not just younger, but more radiant and alive.
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