Unplug and Unwind with This Spin Master’s Self-Care Routine

If anyone knows how to properly chill out, it’s intersectional feminist DJ Kittens. Known for her women-only DJ workshop series, PWR WITH KITTENS, this spin master has made industry waves with her focus on female empowerment. But when she’s not revolutionizing the disc-jockey world, you can find her soaking in some homemade bath salts. Add her favorite Le Labo candle, a cocktail of ultra-hydrating skin-care products, and you have a Kittens-approved spa day. Read below for her complete self-care Sunday routine.

What activities and/or products do you love to lift your spirits and alleviate stress?

“Meditation helps me so, so much—I literally feel like a maniac if I don’t do it, so that’s usually my default thing to do when I’m feeling a little off. I’m also a huge bath person. I love all my different salts/oils/bubbles (big fan of a good bath bomb from Lush, and I’m custom-mixing my own bath salts with different ingredients) and have a ton of crystals and candles laid out around the edges of the tub with my iPad (I fluctuate between binge-watching Netflix and just putting on nature sounds). Since I’m just hypersensitive energetically, I tend to absorb everyone else’s stress on top of my own...so it’s a really important part of my self-care routine to make sure I’m mindful in cleansing and reseting my mental and physical self.”

What activities and/or products do you love to take care of your body?

“I’m not the most disciplined when it comes to exercising, but I grew up dancing competitively, so elements of that stuck with me. Stretching often, yoga, and ballet make me feel like I’m really taking care of my internal body. Externally though, you better believe I have those super-scrubby exfoliating mits that they use at the Korean spa. There’s nothing more satisfying than feeling like a slippery dolphin after you use one of those things, then drench your skin in some coconut oil.”

If you have an entire day to yourself, without any responsibilities, where are you and what are you doing?

“If it wasn’t COVID lockdown times in L.A. here, my answer would be totally different, but for now, my days off include binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy with my girlfriend (I just started at season one and am determined to catch up to season 17)…a walk, and some time just laying in the sun somewhere safe. Oh, and a long bath and a long drive somewhere before sunset so I feel a bit of freedom.”

What are your five to 10 must-have products for self-care and beauty?

“A facial exfoliating brush to use with Cerave foaming facial cleanser. My skin gets congested really easily but is also super sensitive (of course she’s complicated), so I have to get a good scrub in without irritating everything.

“I have this Gua Sha tool I found on Amazon that’s incredible. It’s stainless steal and also has a little roller ball on the end so I can work out any facial tension (hello, TMJ) and get my blood circulating because I am definitely one of those people who gets puffy-face jowl action after a tiny bit of extra salt.

“The Apple AirPod Pros are ESSENTIAL for me. The noise canceling shuts out any stressful or overstimulating noises, and I can just throw on nature sounds or whatever I need to chill out.

“I have melasma (which is so common I don’t know why more public figure types don’t talk about it), but it’s literally the most frustrating skin issue for me. Dark and super-stubborn hyperpigmentation that just keeps coming back no matter what you do to it? Nightmare. Anyways, I found this product by Musely a year ago, and it’s the only thing that’s helped me successfully manage it. I get the Spot Eraser Cream, which is basically just a cocktail of skin-lightening agents that you can only get from a dermatologist, but Musely offers a virtual consultation thing and subscription to the cream, so I don’t have to worry about it. I just apply it a couple times a week to keep my spots from getting dark again. Magic.

“Since my hair is super curly and gets easily dry/damaged, a good hydrating mask and oils are major. I really love the CBD Hydrating Hair Mask from Fekkai and Ouai Treatment Mask (I like to mix it up, but they both smell amazing and make my hair happy). Then Olaplex Bonding Hair Oil is my go-to lately because I just feel like the science behind Olaplex products helps really heal your locks instead of throwing a Band-Aid on the issue.

“I’m gonna be dramatic and say Sunday Riley changed my skin. I’m over the age of 25 and acne prone and basically have every annoying skin issue in life, so it’s hard to find products that keep my situation handled. I bounce between their UFO face oil with salicylic acid and tea tree (keeps all my breakouts from breaking out), and the A+ Retinol Serum helps with overall skin texture and is an extra ass kick to any wishful blemishes.”

Are there any special or unusual self-care or beauty practices that you swear by?

“As someone who is always exfoliating and protecting their skin with sunscreen…I will be the first to tell you I look like a pale vampire no matter what time of year it is…but I came across this bronzing face mist from St. Tropez and it’s such a fire little secret weapon. I just spray it on every other day, and it gives me a nice hydration moment but is secretly delivering some invisible self-tanning bits that give my skin a glow and look like my face has actually seen the sun. [It] also helps to even out any lingering discoloration/dark spots—10/10 to help you feel better without makeup if your skin isn’t always behaving.”