There's nothing I love more than taking a little time to pamper myself with a beauty treatment. Be it with a hair mask, face mask, manicure, or pedicure, I relish the moments when I can just sit back, relax, and treat myself. But, let's get real: Everyone is busy as hell. And as much as I would love to unwind after a long day with some smushed-up strawberries on my face, it's just not something that I can pull off each day.
Some people do calf raises under their desks; I prioritize indulgences. That said, I've gotten pretty good at sneaking treatments into my daily life. (If I do say so myself.) Some of these tricks are so stealthy, I doubt anyone would notice they're happening at all. However, I'm here to spill my secrets. Ahead, check out four of my favorite ways to pamper myself on the DL. Now every day can be a pamper day.
Pop on an eye mask while you fly.
While many people (yours truly, included) will tell you to slap on a sheet mask while on an airplane, let's face it — it's kind of an embarrassing thing to do. It's not exactly subtle, you know? My second best suggestion? Eye patches. Pop them on, and then slyly hide them with a sleep mask or sunglasses. These ones from Tatcha actually brighten under your eyes, so you'll look daisy fresh once you step off the plane.
Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask, $12, available at Sephora.
Reinforce your hair overnight.
Since I bleached my hair, it's been on the brittle side, which is why I've been doing Olaplex treatments once a week. And, as with so many things in life, patience is paramount to this working. Most stylists suggest 30 minutes, but my colorist Lucille Javier at the Sally Hershberger salon prefers I sleep in the stuff.
It's actually such an amazing way to ensure my thirsty strands are getting the help they need. Post-shampooing, I smooth my hair, twist it up in a bun, pop on a shower cap, and pass out. When I wake up, I rinse and condition, and my hair feels so insanely silky I can hardly believe it. And all I had to do was hit the sack.
Olaplex No. 3 Bond Perfector, prices vary, Olaplex for salon locations.
Fix brittle nails as you snooze.
Confession time: I'm a total nail-biter, which is disgusting. (Especially when I think about the poles I hold during my subway commute.) But when my nails do grow, they are soft and brittle. Cuticle oil is the savior, but the minute you wash your hands, it washes away.
Deborah Lippmann herself gave me an amazing tip during Fashion Week one season — wear your cuticle oil at night. I actually take it a step further and pop on some gloves after applying so the stuff really doesn't move. Since you aren't washing your hands for seven hours (if you're lucky enough to sleep that long), you're getting a healthy dose of uninterrupted moisture, which will help strengthen your nails. Who knew?
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil, $20, available at Sephora.
Hydrate your strands at the gym.
This is another trick that came about after I dyed my hair platinum: using a hair mask at the gym. It's actually great. If your hair is already up and nuts-looking, why not use that shabby-chic moment for something beneficial?
The masks I go for are either pure coconut oil, or hydrators like this one from Oribe. To keep product from dripping (although it rarely does), I always don a bandana as a headband. It soaks up any mess, keeping drips away from my eyes. When I get home, I shower as normal and wash the mask out of my hair for instantly hydrated strands.
Oribe Signature Moisture Masque, $62, available at Oribe.
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