THERAPEUTIC LAZINESS: THE ART OF DOING LESS
It's 10pm and you’re ready to dive into your 10-step skin care ritual before your head hits the pillow. But is it just us, or is this routine becoming slightly overwhelming? You want the glow, but do you really have the time (or energy) for all the steps?
Enter: Therapeutic Laziness.
We live in a world that’s fast paced and go-go-go, but with an 85% surge in ‘relaxing bedtime routine’ searches and a 140% spike in searches for ‘minimal skin care’ over the past 30 days alone, it seems like we’re all starting to crave something a little simpler. So, with that in mind it’s time to rethink the approach
Teaming up with dermatologist Dr. Deborah Lee and some of our Cult Beauty experts, we’ve unlocked the secret to elevating your self-care routine, soothing that overworked mind and getting your glow on – all without the heavy lifting.
Ready to indulge without the guilt? It’s time to embrace Therapeutic Laziness and the less is more lifestyle.
In This Article:
- What Is Therapeutic Laziness
- How Can Therapeutic Laziness Help Us Unwind
- How To Build Your Therapeutic Laziness Routines
- Cult Beauty's Therapeutic Laziness Routines
WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC LAZINESS
The overall concept to Therapeutic Laziness is sourcing skin, hair and wellbeing essentials that work... while you laze. We’re talking multi-use, stimulated-while-you-snooze skin care, hair care and body care. Focusing on necessary and effective ingredients, these beauty routines should soothe and nourish while slipping seamlessly into a more streamlined and simpler routine. But it doesn’t end there. With rest and recovery being a major player in Therapeutic Laziness, creating a restful and rejuvenating environment should also be imperative to your routine. Think: a serene space that feels calming and comforting to stimulate your senses into a restful slumber. Taking Bed Rotting one step further, Therapeutic Laziness is essentially being unproductive, but intentional about it, with WGSN describing it as “an anti-wellness movement that elevates bed rotting into a refined, self care ritual loaded with tactile hedonism.”
HOW CAN THERAPEUTIC LAZINESS HELP US UNWIND
"In modern society, we often associate productivity with self-worth, even when it comes to self-care. But constantly chasing wellness trends can create pressure, leading to more stress rather than relaxation. A stripped-back routine helps eliminate decision fatigue, allowing the brain to truly unwind.” explains Dr Lee.
So, what should we be doing instead? “Skin thrives on consistency, not complexity.” tells us Dr Lee. “Overloading it with multiple steps, double cleansing, and excessive exfoliation can disrupt the natural skin barrier, leading to irritation and breakouts. A minimalist routine helps maintain balance, allowing the skin to repair itself overnight.”
And what about creating a cosy, comforting atmosphere for better sleep? “A simplified routine, like lighting a candle, using a silk pillowcase, and applying a single hydrating product, creates a predictable rhythm that signals the brain to prepare for sleep. Studies show that exposure to soft, warm lighting before bed enhances melatonin production, whereas overloading the skin with active ingredients at night can inadvertently keep the body in a heightened state of alertness."
HOW TO BUILD YOUR THERAPEUTIC LAZINESS ROUTINES
Letting go of self care fatigue is the name of the beauty game when it comes to Therapeutic Laziness, so it’s time to put down your multiple serums and oils and learn how to create the ultimate unwind session that’s as easy as it is indulgent.
Streamline your skin care:
Imperative to Therapeutic Laziness is utilising skin care products that are powerful, potent and hardworking. Begin with a gentle but effective cleanser, then add a multitasking serum and finish with a hydrating moisturiser. Bonus points if they small like a spa.
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Find overnight solutions for your strands:
Don’t forget to treat your tresses while you snooze too. We recommend using a scalp serum or overnight hair mask to ensure your scalp is maintained for better hair health, and then wrapping your strands in a silk hair accessory (such as a scrunchie or turban) for a hassle-free hair care regimen
Indulge in an LED mask:
The secret to glowing, spa worthy skin, LED masks are the ultimate multitasking hero in the Therapeutic Laziness routine. Working to fight fine lines, breakout and texture, LED Masks are the ideal set-and-forget solution you can use to stimulate relaxation while soothe your skin and your mind.
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Lean into aromatherapy:
Transporting yourself to somewhere new is another quick and effective way to settle your soul. Simply lighting your favourite candle or indulging in a room spray , allows you to fill your bedroom with an aromatic aroma that will help you instantly unwind.
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Improve your sleep quality:
Dimming the lights, decluttering your sleep space and investing in a silk pillowcase are the perfect endings to a Therapeutic Laziness routine. The goal here is to create a restful environment that stimulates a comforting atmosphere to ensure that even the raciest of minds can wind down and sink into a peaceful slumber.
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Now we understand what therapeutic laziness is, let’s dive into some real life Therapeutic Laziness routines...
CULT BEAUTY’S THERAPEUTIC LAZINESS ROUTINES:
“After an evening of rushing around doing nursery pick up, plus my son's bath and bedtime routines, the favourite thing about my bedtime routine is that I can really take my time! Once I've done my skin care routine with a podcast in, I like to add Fable & Mane SahaScalp as an overnight hair mask and wrap my hair into my Drowsy Pillow Scrunchie to get into bed. Once I'm comfy I spritz the Queen of Hungary Evening Mist and read my kindle until I feel sleepy. The last thing I always do is check my baby on the video monitor and cross my fingers for a good night's sleep!” - Lisa, Marketing Communications Executive
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“I’m an early bird, so beauty sleep is non-negotiable. My night routine? I call it self-care excellence. First up, I wash away the day with a double cleanse. Then, I pat on my go-to LANEIGE Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturise. While that sinks in, I dab on my night eye cream and slather my lips in an overnight hydrating mask. Next, I lock it all in with a rich night cream, but I am not done yet! I pop on my Dieux Skin Forever Eye Masks to supercharge my under-eyes, then strap on my The Light Salon Boost LED Bib for my neck because my neck deserves the VIP treatment too. Now for my protective hair style – I part my hair and massage in Act+Acre 3% Stem Cell Peptide H3-Grow+ Complex Scalp Treatment (long name, big results). Then, I gently bun my hair with a Drowsy Black Jade Pillow Scrunchie, tuck it into a Slip Pure Silk Turban. At this point, I look absolutely wild, but I feel like a million bucks. I hop into bed, let my LED Bib run its time and finally pop on my Drowsy Black Jade Sleep Mask. Next thing I know, my alarm is screaming.”- Kimi, Events Assistant
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“Once I get home from work the first thing, I do is tie my hair up with a slip hair tie and get into comfy clothes. As I have insomnia, I take my night time routine quite seriously, to allow myself to have the best night sleep possible. The first step will be sitting on my bed and lighting my Tree House BYREDO candle, and Jo Malone mini candle. Whilst these are burning I will either journal or watch my fixation programme (which is currently The Office US), to wind down from the day. When it gets to around 8:30/9pm I will take my makeup off with micellar water and do my skincare routine- the BYOMA Milky Moisture Cleaner, BYOMA Balancing Face Mist and Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream. I will then switch on my heated blanket and lumi lamp alarm, and cuddle with my beautiful dog Lulu while I drink my sleepy tea until I fall asleep.” -Issy, Marketing Intern
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Ultimately, Therapeutic Laziness is about embracing and prioritising what makes you feel good, rather than what everyone else is doing. So, pick your favourite cream and moisturiser, light that aromatic candle and enjoy your LED mask in peace, because really, it’s the little things in life that make the biggest difference.
Rina is Cult Beauty’s Midweight SEO Copywriter and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or a fantasy romance novel, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.
