A Little Book of Calm

Our free e-book: a five-minute facial massage, pulse points through the day, and small comforts for out-of-sorts days. Made for you by Kelly & Wendy.

Before you begin

A note from us

When we started making skincare around our kitchen table, we noticed something. People didn't only tell us how their skin felt. They told us how they felt: that the few minutes spent cleansing with a hot cloth had become the calmest part of their day.

That's what this little book is about. None of it takes long, and none of it needs to be done perfectly. These are simply the rituals we come back to ourselves, on good days and on the days when everything feels a bit much.

Take what you like, leave the rest, and make them your own.

Kelly & Wendy x

A gentle note: our products are for everyday care and comfort, not treatments. If you're unwell, pregnant, or have a skin condition, please check with your GP, pharmacist or midwife first, and always patch test something new on the inside of your arm.

Ritual one

A five-minute facial massage

This is lovely with our Gently Nourishing Cleansing Balm in the evening, or with two or three drops of Overnight Replenishing Oil before bed. Use slow, light pressure, and never drag the skin.

• 1

  Warm and breathe

  Warm a small amount between your palms. Cup your hands over your face, close your eyes and take three slow breaths in the scent.

• 2

  Press

  Press your palms gently over your forehead, cheeks and jaw, holding each for a breath. Let your shoulders drop.

• 3

  Sweep the jaw

  With your knuckles softly curled, sweep from the centre of your chin out along the jaw towards your ears. Repeat five times each side.

• 4

  Along the cheekbones

  Using your fingertips, glide from the sides of your nose out along your cheekbones to your temples. Repeat five times.

• 5

  Smooth the brow

  Place your fingertips at the centre of your brow and smooth outwards, one hand after the other, as if gently ironing a ribbon.

• 6

  Circle the temples

  Make small, slow circles at your temples, then down behind your ears and along the sides of your neck.

• 7

  Rest

  Finish with your palms resting over your closed eyes for three breaths. Then remove your cleanser with a hot cloth, or simply let the oil sink in.

Ritual two

Pulse points through the day

Pulse points are the warm places where you can feel your heartbeat close to the skin: your wrists, the inside of your elbows, behind your ears and at your temples. The warmth there helps a scent unfold gently around you.

We keep our aromatherapy roller balls in our bags and use them as small full stops in a busy day: a pause, a breath, and on we go.

When	What we reach for	How
Morning	Revive	Roll onto your wrists, press them together, then breathe in slowly before you head out.
Afternoon	Breathe	Roll across your wrists, cup your hands near your face and take three slow breaths at your desk.
Evening	Calm or Unwind	Roll behind your ears and on your wrists as you start to slow down for the night.

Roller balls are for unbroken skin only. Keep them away from your eyes, and out of reach of children.

Ritual three

A Sunday facial at home

Once a week, give yourself half an hour. Pop the kettle on, put your phone in another room, and take your time.

1. Cleanse with the Gently Nourishing Cleansing Balm, using the facial massage from Ritual One, then remove with a hot cloth.
2. Exfoliate gently with the Gently Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant. Mix a little with a few drops of water in your palm, massage in light circles, then rinse away.
3. Mask with the Calm & Soothe Face Mask. It never dries or sets on the skin, so leave it for ten minutes while you rest, or even overnight.
4. Finish with two or three drops of facial oil and your Hydration Boost Moisturising Balm, pressed in with warm palms.

Ritual four

An evening wind-down

The hour before bed is when we most need to slow down, and when it's hardest to. A few small, repeated steps can become a signal to yourself that the day is done.

1. Dim the lights and put screens away if you can.
2. Cleanse slowly with a hot cloth, and take a moment with the warmth on your face.
3. Press in two or three drops of Overnight Replenishing Oil.
4. Massage a little Unwind Your Mind Evening Balm into your wrists and the back of your neck, and breathe in.
5. Write down one thing from today you're grateful for, and one thing you can leave until tomorrow.

“Calm your skin, unwind your mind.” It's the reason we started, and it's still the thing we care about most.

Ritual five

A warm foot soak

Our feet carry us all day and rarely get any attention. A foot soak is one of the simplest, most comforting things you can do at the end of a long day, and you don't even need a bath.

1. Fill a large bowl with warm water, and test the temperature with your elbow.
2. Stir in the Deep Relaxation Bath & Foot Soak, using the amount on the jar.
3. Sit somewhere comfortable, soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes, and do nothing else at all.
4. Pat dry, then massage in a little Instant Hydration Body Balm, working from your toes to your ankles.
5. Pop on warm socks and head to bed.

Ritual six

Small comforts for out-of-sorts days

We all have days when we feel run down, tired or a little frazzled. These aren't cures. They're simply the small, kind things we do for ourselves on those days, and we hope they bring you some comfort too.

And on those days, be gentle with yourself. Drink a glass of water, eat something warm, and let the rest wait.

If you're feeling unwell or out of sorts for more than a few days, please talk to your GP or pharmacist.

Thank you

We hope these little rituals bring you a few calm moments. If you try any of them, we'd love to hear how you get on. Just reply to any of our emails, or tag us on Instagram @huskandseedskincareuk.

Kelly & Wendy x