Morning rituals? They're my secret sauce. It's about setting the tone for the day, and I'd be lost without them.
I don't wear a lot of foundation, and instead, I focus on radiating a natural glow. Less makeup and more (smooth) skin is my kind of beauty mantra.
To “feel good in the skin I'm in,” I like to get seven to eight hours of beauty sleep and rely on grounding morning rituals: treat thirsty pores with double-serum layering, savor morning coffee, do Kundalini fusion yoga, and plan out the day.
Double-Serum Layering for Fall Skincare
As the fall weather fluctuates in Manhattan from warm and humid to cool and dry, my pores often feel parched. I begin by splashing cooling water on my face to awaken the pores.
Then, I massage in the Pumpkin Renew Serum, followed by the Raspberry Nourish Serum. It feels like a hydrating mask that my pores drink up as I sip on my morning coffee.
Starting my day by pampering my skin is a morning ritual that helps me feel confident throughout the day. It's a small thing, but it makes a world of difference as I glow through Zoom and in-person meetings.
"A cozy fall morning ritual is all about nourishing the skin and grounding the soul."
Morning Coffee Bliss
Full confession: I have a love affair with coffee, and sometimes, this morning ritual is what gets me out of bed. 😊 Oh, and Pumpkin Bourbon Bread is another motivator, too!
I even have a coffee bar dedicated to this obsession. Here are my essentials:
- Nespresso machine + pods
- Turkish coffee machine
- Small espresso cups (for quick pick-me-ups)
- Irish coffee mugs (for caffeine-infused work sessions)
- Little lamp for ambiance
On my best mornings, I wake up at 6AM to enjoy coffee with my daughter and dog and have a quick chat before she heads off to school.
Setting Intentions for Work-Life Balance
As part of my morning ritual, I use the Savor Beauty “organize gorgeous chaos” journal, a planning system to manage my time, keep track of self-care, and outline a 90-day vision with daily plans.
An essential aspect of this 90-day vision is reflecting on what's working and what's not. This often inspires a necessary shift or life “upgrade.”
For instance, what's not working is that since I work from home, I often close my laptop at 6PM and rush into dinner time feeling frazzled.
For the next 90 days, I've decided to start my workday at 8AM and finish by 4PM. This “life upgrade” gives me an hour to smoothly transition into quality time at home with my family. I use the extra time for happy hour or cooking, which is a meditation of sorts for me.
Fun perk! What I'm loving about this so far is that there are far fewer pings at the 8AM hour, which helps me get more done in less time.
Energy Cleanse: My Kundalini Morning Ritual
I like to do an “energy cleanse” every morning. Just like it's important to remove the dirt and debris from our pores every day, I believe we need to do the same for our energy. This helps to manifest from a place of clarity vs. a cloudy orbit.
This morning ritual consists of three elements: breathwork, movement meditation, and mantras. I start by activating my parasympathetic nervous system through deliberate breath control, which helps me to feel grounded before the “gorgeous chaos” begins.
I follow this pattern: inhale slowly over a count of 4, hold for 4 counts, exhale over another 4 counts, and then hold again for 4 counts.
Then, I perform vigorous breathwork paired with Kundalini sets to open the chakras. I finish with a luxurious facial massage using my Savor Beauty serums.
"Just like we cleanse our faces, our energy needs to be cleansed, too."
Hopefully, these fall morning rituals inspire you to wake up a little earlier to feel “good in the skin you're in!”
xx,
Angela Jia Kim
Angela Jia Kim
Founder of Savor Beauty, Mom to a teen daughter and mini golden, partner to a sweet soul, forever New Yorker, unfortunate carb lover, hopeless Aries 💞
