Reset your skin with this Winter Solstice beauty ritual

For most people, the Winter Solstice isn’t exactly the most exciting event. It’s the shortest day of the year, AKA you won’t get to experience much sunlight (miss you, vitamin D). It’s in the middle of winter, so you’re undoubtedly going to be freezing. And it means that if you haven’t done your holiday shopping yet, you better get on it fast.

On the other hand, the yearly occurrence actually means positive things in terms of the celestial forecast. “It’s a time when the earth is going through a major recalibration,” says Guru Jagat, Kundalini yoga teacher, founder of the RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology, and Well+Good Council member who’s leading workshops at The Sacred Space Miami to maximize the occasion.

“Harmonizing your aura with the celestial cycles amplifies your intuition and your energetic sensitivity,” says Jagat. “Opportunities for jobs, promotions, or higher caliber markets for your services are literally knocking on your door all the time—you just have to have the awareness that they’re there and the dexterity to take advantage of them.”

Well guess what: She says there’s a beauty ritual you can do in order to get aligned so that you can reap the cosmic benefits. “One of my favorite ways to reset my aura during Winter Solstice is the hydrotherapy technology of Kundalini yoga,” says Jagat. “Upon waking up, gently dry brush your skin with strokes towards the heart, starting from the feet and working your way up your entire body.”

Once you’ve invigorated your skin, she says to massage your skin with your fave nourishing body oil—Jagat loves the Shiva Rose Venus Amber Body Oil ($85). Do this until you’re nice and warm. Then comes the hydrotherapy: “Turn your shower on using only cold water, and hop in!” says Jagat. “Massage your body under the cold stream for one to three minutes, get out, and vigorously towel-dry yourself until you’re warm again.”

The thing about hydrotherapy is that not only is it good for your skin, but it’s like a mind-body reset. “Cold shower hydrotherapy is a major yogic beauty secret,” says Jagat. “Side effects beyond skin integrity with crazy luminosity include an auric tune-up.” That’s why post-cold rinse, you’ll hopefully feel bliss (you know, after you warm up again).

“Despite the bite, cold showers leave you feeling euphoric,” says Jagat. “The practice sets you up for a blissful and empowered day and, over time, a new normal of radiance and positive projection.” And so, armed with these newfound happy chemicals (not to mention moisturized skin), you don’t have to fear the all-dreaded shortest and darkest day of the year.

While you’re at it, here are some dry skin moisturizers to save that winter complexion. Mix that with a nourishing facial oil and you’ll be all set.