“I don’t have time for myself” is something we say so often that we end up believing it. But sometimes, all it takes is one hour. We’ve put together a 60-minute evening ritual in six simple steps. All you need is a bath, a few favorite products, and a phone switched off.
Why an hour?
When we turn the clocks back an hour in autumn, that extra hour usually disappears between work and screens. What if you spent it on yourself, just once?
An hour is long enough to help you slow down, yet short enough to find time for even during a busy week. You can do the whole ritual in one go, or choose one or two steps when you’re short on time.
Before you begin
- Warm up the bathroom and get a soft towel ready.
- Turn off notifications or leave your phone in another room.
- Dim the lights and, if you like, put on some relaxing music.
- Set a glass of water or a cup of herbal tea nearby.
1. Dry massage · 5 min.
Start the ritual before your bath, while your skin is still dry. Using a soft brush, make short strokes upward from your feet, toward your heart: legs, arms, abdomen, back. Use light pressure; your skin should become slightly pink, not irritated.
Dry massage gently exfoliates the skin, while the rhythmic motion helps you shift from the pace of the day to the calm of the evening.
Gentle body brush for dry massage
2. Magnesium bath · 20 min.
Run a warm, not hot, bath and add magnesium flakes. Check the packaging for the recommended amount. Wait for them to dissolve, then simply relax in the water for about 20 minutes.
This is the longest and most important step. Do nothing: no phone, no rushing, no thoughts about tomorrow’s tasks. Just breathe and let yourself rest.
Zechstein Sea magnesium bath flakes
3. Magnesium cream · 5 min.
When you get out of the bath, gently pat your skin dry with a towel—don’t rub. While your skin is still damp, massage in the body cream with magnesium salts using circular motions. Pay special attention to your feet, legs, and shoulders.
If you like, you can spray your skin with magnesium spray before applying the cream to finish the ritual.
Body cream with magnesium salts · Magnesium spray for skin
4. Scalp massage · 10 min.
Sit comfortably and massage your scalp in slow circles: from your forehead toward the back of your head, then from your temples toward the nape of your neck. Apply as much pressure as feels good. For a cooling sensation, chill the tool in the fridge before your ritual.
Scalp massage is one of the simplest ways to release tension built up during the day, especially if you spend a lot of time at a computer.
5. Facial ritual · 15 min.
Cleanse your face and apply your favorite face mask. Hold your Gua Sha or Cryosculptor almost flat against your skin and gently glide it upward and outward: from the center of your chin along your jawline, from your nose toward your temples, and from your eyebrows toward your hairline.
Gua Sha for face and body massage · Cryosculptor
6. Eye rest · 5 min.
The last five minutes are all about calm. Lie down, put on a silk sleep mask, and let your eyes rest from screens and light. Its gentle weight sits comfortably over the eye area and helps you relax.
If you do the ritual in the evening, this step naturally becomes part of your bedtime routine.
The whole ritual at a glance
- 5 min. Dry massage
- 20 min. Magnesium bath
- 5 min. Magnesium cream
- 10 min. Scalp massage
- 15 min. Facial ritual
- 5 min. Eye rest
Total: 60 minutes.
When you only have 15 minutes
The ritual doesn’t have to include every step. When you have a shorter evening, choose one of these combinations:
- For your body: dry massage before your shower and magnesium cream afterward.
- For your head and face: scalp massage and a quick facial massage with Gua Sha.
- For calm: a 10-minute magnesium foot bath and 5 minutes with a sleep mask.
What matters most isn’t how long it takes, but that the time is yours.
For more on how to combine magnesium spray and body cream with magnesium salts, read our article “Magnesium skincare: when to use magnesium spray and body cream with magnesium salts?”
If you have any health conditions or are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking a hot bath or having a more intensive massage.
Best wishes,
The ALAUSHU® team
