From Red Light to Cold Therapy—These Are the Skincare Rituals Insiders Swear By

Every year begins with a bang of ambition and drive. Jumping into a new year can be like jumping into a cool pool on a summer’s day: energizing and satisfying. But the feeling doesn’t last. By July, that new year feeling has grown tepid. But luckily, there are actual cold pools (and even colder plunges) to jump into to energize you from the inside out.

As the beauty and wellness spaces become further intertwined, energizing rituals don’t just transform how you feel, but also how you look. Beauty rituals go beyond blush and brow fluffing, especially in the summer, where low-maintenance beauty and high-octane vibes are the name of the game. They’re about feeling your best, so they can look your best. Let’s look at a few of them.

Featured image from our Wake Up Call with Sami Spalter.

How to Create Energizing Beauty Rituals

I take summer seriously. It’s my favorite time to reset, refresh, and relax. And I always find that when I feel revitalized, I look revitalized. And it’s not just me. Beauty expert Lydia Kandel, head of Marketing for Credo and Private Label brands, is a seasoned expert on customer-first beauty that prioritizes experience over aesthetics. According to Kandel, “beauty rituals—whether it’s morning skincare and makeup or winding down at night—are small moments of care.”

She elaborates, “they remind me I’m prioritizing myself with products made from ingredients I trust for me and my family.” The more energized you feel, the better you show up for yourself and the people around you. Because beauty rituals aren’t just about boosting confidence—though that shouldn’t be underestimated—they’re also about “creating shifts in the moment.”

Want to learn how to shift your moments towards energy and vitality? Kandel gave us insights on how to create energizing beauty rituals.

Why do energizing rituals work?

Fatigue shows up on your skin and is stored all over your body. It can be caused by:

• Lack of quality sleep
• Overdoing sugar (bad for your gut!) or alcohol
• Spending too much time in the sun

Beauty rituals can replenish that. Any energizing ritual should help boost your energy from the inside to help you glow on the outside.

According to Kandel, energizing beauty rituals “support lymphatic drainage, which helps reduce puffiness and move toxins out of the body. They also improve circulation, which gives skin a natural glow and helps you feel more energized overall.”

Energizing Beauty Rituals to Try This Summer

Summer is the best time to discover what feels good. Gone is the masochism of winter when ideas like 75 Hard seem like good ones. Instead, this is time to discover what actually resonates with you—and what actually works.

“As a working mom of two, I lean on breathwork to reset, a quick walk to clear my mind, or 15–20 minutes of movement to recharge. I also do weekly masks to wake my skin and boost my energy,” shares Kandel.

To create a toolkit that works for you, try some of the following energizing beauty rituals:

Lymphatic Drainage

The first order of business: Take your de-stressing seriously. High stress leads to the buildup of cortisol, which often manifests in uncomfortable bloating. Detoxing your lymphatic system doesn’t just happen on the (expensive) massage chair. You can also do it at home.

From the gua sha to the dry brush, lymphatic drainage boosts blood flow and gives you an instant “lit-from-within” glow. As a bonus, physical touch also increases natural chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin for an instant mood boost.

“Dry brushing before a shower is one of my favorite rituals to boost circulation and instantly feel more alive,” says Kandel.

Physical Exfoliation

From spa-level microdermabrasion to in-shower scrubs, exfoliation isn’t just a physical treatment. It’s an easy, energizing ritual that wakes you up, making you feel brand new. Especially when combined with aromatherapy.

Start With the Scalp

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), stimulating the scalp is a shortcut to releasing stress in all parts of your body. It’s also the key to healthy, voluminous hair. Scalp care is the underrated secret to hair care. And it doesn’t have to be complicated—we made it even simpler with a detailed, lazy girl’s guide to hair care.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Temperature therapy is everywhere right now. Sometimes it’s about going from cold plunges to saunas and back, but in the summer, it’s more about jumping into pools or the ocean. Temperature changes are good for your skin: Heat sweats out the toxins, and cold boosts your circulation.

Small changes in temperature can be just as effective as dramatic ones. Think: ice rolling, heating tools, and even a warm bath.

Turn Up the Red Light

There’s a reason that all your faves are always sitting with red light masks glued to their faces. Red light really works. Not only does it kill bacteria to prevent acne, it also keeps your face glowy and bright. Its mental health benefits are also not a small bonus. Red light reduces stress, boosts cognitive function, and makes you feel brand new.