I had an interesting discussion with a friend recently about the act of putting on skincare during your skincare routine, and whether it was something that people do, or are wont to do, in private.
It amused me enough, that I thought it would be interesting to see what YOU might think! :D After all, if you’re reading this post, and therefore my blog, you would be doing your skincare routine at least twice a day.
Do you prefer keeping that aspect of your life private, doing it in the bathroom, before emerging, like a caterpillar from its cocoon; or are you comfortable doing your skincare routine in front of someone else, be it a friend or significant other? Let me know! :)
Do you keep it private?
I found it amusing, because my friend was of the opinion that putting on skincare, or doing your skincare routine, is a rather intimate act, and therefore, something that people might feel more comfortable doing in private.
Perhaps, it is to do with the act itself, if you take the time to appreciate and massage your products into your skin. The act of massage is in and of itself something that can be deemed or perceived to be a sensual act. That, coupled with the textures and scents of your lotions and creams, as you slowly work them into your skin, might be perceived to be alluring.
For some therefore, they may perceive that the act of doing their skincare routine, taking time to massage products into the skin and to layer it on, maybe something better done in private, at least away from a significant other. Perhaps, even as a form of self-pampering ‘me-time’.
There are some people also, that I know perceive the act of putting on their skincare to be a private thing, because they are uncomfortable allowing other people to see them with bare skin.
It might come down to an issue of low self-confidence, or perceived imperfections on their skin, or just how they look without some makeup on, that they feel uncomfortable showing. We can only put our skincare on, on bare skin, so this is something some people might prefer to do in private.
Are you comfortable doing your routine in front of someone else?
On the other hand, you have me, for whom none of these thoughts ever crossed my mind! LOL! :P
I’ve always viewed my skincare routine as that – a daily routine. Something I do daily, that is so much a part of my day and of me, that I find it almost mechanical in my approach.
How I do it isn’t mechanical. I enjoy the process, and luxuriate in the pampering. But I view it clinically, as something process-driven. I’d never thought of it any other way!
Part of it I think is due to the fact that I keep my skincare products outside my bathroom. For this reason, barring cleansing, everything else takes place outside the bathroom.
RELATED READING: Do you keep your skincare products in your bathroom? Should you? READ HERE
Perhaps, it is also to do with what I do i.e. I blog, and I have not been afraid to put up bare-faced photos on my blog. I also periodically share how I do my skincare routine on Instagram Stories. In that sense, having, for want of a better phrase, ‘lived in the public eye’, I did not view the act of putting on skincare or doing a skincare routine, as something very private.
While I won’t be out there doing it in public either (except for IG stories :P ) I suppose I don’t shy away from doing my skincare routine in front of strangers, or family and friends.
So this leads me to my question as to what you think.
Do you view the act of putting on your skincare or doing your skincare routine as something you’d much rather do in private? Or is it something you are comfortable doing in front of someone else?
I’d be curious to hear what you think! And if you find this as amusing as I do :D
Paris B
I thought this was interesting, and made me think about where and how I do my skincare routine. I personally prefer to keep it private. I do keep my skincare in my bathroom, so I usually just follow up with it after my shower, or after washing my face. But I do feel a little uncomfortable doing my routine in front of my SO. I never quite put my finger on it, but I think your friend has a point!
I think my friend will feel very validated by your view! LOL!
I always do my skincare out of the bathroom, as I take too long, and bending and squinting at the bathroom mirror is difficult.
I don’t need privacy for almost all routines, but there is one thing I need to do in absolute privacy, doing the brows. I do this daily and if needed, I will hide in the bathroom, bend and squint for this routine only.
I simply can’t get a satisfactory brows if others are around. Weird huh, considering I’m really good at brows from daily practice.
That’s interesting K, that you feel the need for privacy to do your brows. My brows often end up wonky too, but I think it’s because I’m more self-conscious about putting on makeup than skincare, to be honest! I can never seem to put my makeup on right with people watching LOL!
Wow I never thought of it at all. Make up on the other hand, is something I don’t do in the public but in front of my hubby and daughters, I apply both skincare and make up. I am curious if I might feel conscious now next tine I put on my face cream, eye cream, lip balm and tube mask (transparent ones) in the plane. When I flew red eye, I used sheet mask too :p
HAHA I’ve done the sheet mask thing on a plane too in the past. These days, I prefer to use an overnight/sleeping mask instead, so it doesn’t look half as obvious. But I do do my skincare on board, on a long flight. It doesn’t feel weird, but then, maybe it’s because I’m sort of used to it
Honestly, there is only one person I’m comfortable doing my routine in front of, and that is my mom. I just find it very unnerving when there’s someone staring at you- I can’t even do a mask in front of someone else, oddly enough.
That’s not odd Nehha! It’s exactly what my friend is talking about – how it is something a little more private. But I think we all have different tolerances towards privacy and exposure, and there’s no right or wrong way about it!
Agreed. :D
That is an interesting question. I have no inconvenience on doing it so in front of someone else but I guess I would rather prefer be on my own while doing it.
My teenage boys are used to see me with sheet masks on, but that is all. It surprised them a bit when they were little but now is just normal. In fact I think that it has made them concern about skincare and most of all, sunscreen.
Greetings to you all my friends, from Spain.
Hi Patricia, thanks for weighing in. I think most of us do prefer to take that time to be by ourselves, just to practice a little self-care. It’s nice to get away from people for a while and that’s a good job on educating your sons! Boys should learn to care for their skin too, if only just to wear sunscreen :)
Hi Patricia, well done on educating your boys on the benefits of using sunscreen! You can never start too young!
I am fine doing my routine in public or in private. My routines nowadays are very simple so there isn’t much to see. I do have to shower at the gym most days before work so I have to do my morning routine there (which is just to apply sunscreen and mascara).
Well, at least we’re doing our routines and keeping our skin healthy. Doesn’t matter what others think ;)