As the New Year approaches, you're likely asking yourself, "How can I level up in the coming year?" Because… goals! And while you may notice a few recurring trends: exercise more, travel more, lose weight, and get organized. Sound familiar? What you might not realize is that your list of New Year resolutions isn't complete without exploring the latest millennial wave in health and wellness: sound baths.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about your next wellness move:
What is a sound bath?
Though a newer craze in western society -- sound baths, aka an immersion in sound frequency -- aids to guide participants into deep meditation. Believe it or not, the ancient, alternative healing practice is said to predate Christ. Yep, that's right!
Now, think of the last time you were at a concert, blasting the music in your whip while singing along to Lizzo's "Good As Hell", or posted up in the club. Now, multiply that by 10. While there's literally no water involved, a sound bath is a full body experience using a variety of crystal bowls, gemstone bowls, cymbals, and gongs to create repetitive sound frequencies. The end result is said to take your meditative experience to the next level!
What are the benefits?
Practiced by Tibetans for more than 2,000 years, it's believed that Greek physicians used a variety of instruments including flutes, lyres, and zitters to heal their patients. They also used vibration to improve digestion, treat mental illness, and soothe sleeplessness. Meanwhile, ancient Egyptians recount musical incantations for healing the sick. Research dating as far back as the 19th century even credits the relationship between music and healing to improving:
- high blood pressure
- stress and anxiety
- overall wellbeing
What’s all the hype about?
If having a slew of A-list fans like Jhene Aiko, Kendall Jenner, Robert Downey Jr., Charlize Theron, and Laurence Fishburne isn't enticing enough, everyone is talking about it! In fact, Aiko recently gave a nod to the healing practice when she dropped a six-minute sound meditation track titled "Trigger Protection Mantra" before promising followers on Instagram more immersive sound bath experiences. "Color therapy + aromatherapy + sound healing + modern mantra + conscious breathing = an experience of a lifetime," she wrote. Adding, "this is what I am here to do and I am so grateful for the peace and clarity I have found on my path." Need I say more?
How to invest in sound bathing
There's a slew of options! Try a group sound bath session -- prices can range from $30 to $65 -- or for a pretty penny, a private sound bath. Not ready to immerse yourself in the sound of music among others? No problem! You can experience a similar level of relaxation from the comfort of your home!
Here's how: Center yourself in a comfortable place. Sit on a cushion and surround yourself with your crystal bowls. Enhance the ambiance by lighting a candle to evoke spiritual energy. Now, sit back, relax, breathe, and feel the music -- even sing.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
How Wellness Enthusiasts Approach Productivity Differently
The First Time I Tried Acupuncture
Oat Milk, Tongue Scraping, Transformative Travel & Other Women's Health Trends
Featured image by Shutterstock
Did you know that xoNecole has a podcast? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to join us for weekly convos over cocktails (without the early morning hangover.)
This delicate area has a way of being tipped off by our irregular sleep patterns, stress, and the straining that comes from our computers and phone screens. From puffiness to dark circles, it can be irksome to find the right products to soothe our under-eye concerns. Thankfully, there’s one solution that delivers a brighter and more awakened look over time, and that’s under-eye masks and eye patches.
Eye patches are giving our under-eye bags an eviction notice because they can’t hang our glowing faces rent-free. The beauty of these patches is that they are designed to bring your eyes targeted results through concentrated doses of active ingredients directly to the skin under the eyes. Typically made of thin, gel-like material and infused with ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and even green teas, these small but mighty patches depuff your puffiness, brighten your dark circles, or tighten fine lines.
While every under-eye differs in its needs, every eye can benefit from an under-eye mask or patch that suits its concerns. And to help, we’ve put together the best under-eye patches to hydrate, soothe, and brighten your eyes.
KNC Beauty All Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask, 5-Pack
The KNC Beauty All Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask, 5-Pack, is a retinol-infused, all-natural product designed to rejuvenate your eyes. It promises to provide hydration, smoothness, reduced puffiness, and brightness without the use of chemicals. With ingredients like retinol to refine skin texture and stimulate blood flow and aloe to soothe and reduce redness, it's like getting 8 hours of beauty sleep for your eyes.
Topicals Faded Under Eye Brightening Eye Masks
These cooling hydrogel under-eye masks from Topicals promise to fade the appearance of dark circles and discoloration in just 15 minutes. The set includes six masks and offers benefits that brighten, hydrate, depuff, and cool your under-eye area.
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Brightening Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Grab these eye contour gel patches to brighten the eye area and combat signs of aging using a powerful form of vitamin C called THD Ascorbate, which is 50 times more potent than traditional vitamin C.
BeautyBio Bright Eyes Depuffing and Brightening Eye Gels
BeautyBio's Bright Eyes consists of 15 colloidal silver-infused eye gel patches designed to provide instant depuffing, brightening, and revitalization to the delicate eye area within 10 minutes. They also contain natural collagen to help diminish the appearance of fine lines, which we love.
COSRX Advanced Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch
COSRX
These viral hydrogel masks offer moisture and nourishment to rejuvenate tired-looking skin. Their Snail Secretion Filtrate contains "Mucin," an effective moisturizing ingredient that soothes damaged skin and delivers deep hydration, making it suitable for dehydrated and damaged skin types. Your under-eyes will thank you.
Peace Out Puffy Under-Eye Patches
Amazon
Try these caffeine-infused patches to reduce puffiness in the under-eye area. The product features clean, vegan ingredients such as caffeine, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and moisture delivery.
Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask Reusable Silicone Gel Eye Pads
The Forever Eye Mask is designed to be the “last eye mask you'll ever need.” This thin, lightweight, and reusable eye patch can hold gels, serums, and creams close to the skin for better absorption, helping your skincare products work more effectively.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by blackCAT/Getty Images
