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We spend a third of our lives asleep—that means our bedroom is the most lived-in space in our homes. It’s the room where we start and end our days, and that’s why the rituals that happen there are extra important. In The Wind Down, we’ll be exploring the nighttime routines of people we admire and taking their advice to make the moments just before bed feel our best.
To call Celsious a laundromat would feel a bit reductive, though that is technically what it is. Owned and operated by sisters Theresa and Corinna Williams, the business has become a hangout for Brooklynites who not only need to get a few loads of clothing clean, but also want to enjoy a pastry, some good company, and plenty of eco-friendly products while they do it.
Of course, running a laundromat—one that’s open 16 hours a day—is no easy feat. Although the ’mat doesn’t close till midnight, the Williams sisters make a point to take the time they need (even if that’s just 15 minutes!) to decompress from the day. On an ideal night, though, their routine is even more relaxing. Below, they share all.
Balancing act: “I’m a creature of habit, so I wish I had a schedule that allowed me to follow a set routine every night, but running a new business that’s open until midnight, all while trying to balance work, family and social life, means that I often make compromises when it comes to self-care.” —Theresa
“Owning and running a business messes with your schedule constantly. Ideally, I’d be in bed by 11 p.m., but there will invariably be days where I’ll still be at Celsious at that time, crunching numbers or closing the laundromat. We’re open until midnight every day, so if I do end up closing, my bedtime routine gets cut short drastically.” —Corinna
Winding down: “Under normal circumstances, I try to be home at 9 p.m. to enjoy dinner and catch up with my husband. He’s Italian and a great chef, so he’ll usually prepare some of my favorites, like thinly sliced oven-baked sweet potatoes with roasted zucchini and eggplant. And, yeah, I’ll also have a glass of wine with dinner.” —Corinna
“On an ideal night, I go to our in-building gym around 10 p.m. for 30 minutes of weight training, then foam roll and stretch back at the apartment to relax my body and release any tension.” —Theresa
Netflix and chill: “My husband travels a lot, but if he’s home we’ll watch an episode or two of a show we’re both into, most recently The Assassination of Gianni Versace.” —Theresa
“After we eat, it’s Netflix and chill on the sofa: My husband, Nico, grew up in a pastry shop and is a passionate baker, so The Great British Baking Show or a cooking show like Chef’s Table are favorites.” —Corinna
Simple washup steps: “At midnight, I’ll head to the bathroom and play some music from my phone while I take a shower. I’m definitely a night showerer. I’m not a natural morning person, so I always try to maximize the time I get to spend in bed in the morning, even if it’s just a few extra minutes. I haven’t needed shampoo or conditioner since I cut off my hair years ago and downsized my shower products to only a neutral bar soap by Dr. Bronner’s.” —Theresa
“I head to the bathroom at around 11:30 p.m. usually. No matter how late it gets, I always wash my face, brush my teeth, and floss. The whole thing won’t take long, maybe 10 to 15 minutes max.” —Corinna
Skin saviors: “I have ashy skin year-round, so I seal in moisture with a blend of castor and hemp oils from Mountain Rose Herbs when I get out of the shower. Next, I floss with 100 percent mulberry silk dental floss from Package Free Shop, brush my teeth, and scrape my tongue. Then I rinse my face with warm water and massage in a facial oil I blend myself—my dry skin does well with castor oil, which I always use as a carrier, and currently, I’m mixing in neem, vetiver and squalane oils. Once a week I mix up a DIY clay mask for my face and scalp. I throw in any ingredients that will serve me at the moment, like charcoal, turmeric, spirulina, aloe juice, etc. During the 15 minutes the mask dries I meditate or stretch.” —Theresa
“If I wore eye makeup (which I usually only do when we have photo shoots) during the day, I take it off with my custom-blend cleanser by Loli Beauty. If I didn’t wear makeup, I wash my face with Klur’s Gentle Matter Daily Moisture Cleanser. I’ll follow up with Oil + Water Face Mist. On days my skin feels dry or blemished, I finish with a little bit of Moonlight face treatment balm that our friend Domynika gifted us. It magically erases any possible skin ailments overnight. Her brand is called Amberlight Beauty and it’s officially launching soon, so I can’t wait to get my hands on more! I’ll alternate with Khus + Khus Sen Face Serum, which contains CBD to reduce stress and inflammation.” —Corinna
Aromatherapy: “I have a sensitive respiratory system, so I stay away from any practices that might emit VOCs into my indoor air, which includes diffusers and candles. Instead, I blend essential oils into my skin care. At the moment, I love vetiver, which is calming and grounding. I take a few minutes to massage the pressure points around my sinuses or use my gua sha tool by Lanshin after applying the oil. It’s a moment to relax, but it also does wonders to decrease the size of pores.” —Theresa
“If I’m lucky (which I usually am), I get treated to some “wifey stuff” aka a foot massage with Province Apothecary Lover’s Oil, a beautiful spicy blend of ylang-ylang, rose, cardamom, vetiver, and rosemary essential oils.” —Corinna
A quick sip: “I’m not much of a snacker and don’t eat after dinner. Before bed, I’ll drink a glass of apple cider vinegar to help with digestion or a cup of tea in the winter.” —Theresa
“I usually don’t snack after dinner, but might have a shot of amaro—Italian herbal liqueur, which I enjoy as an after-dinner digestif.” —Corinna
Prep ahead: “I’m not a morning person, so I pack my breakfast (usually yogurt or oats with apple sauce) and lunch (an assortment of veggies, whole grains, legumes, and protein that I meal prep once or twice a week) the night before. I prepare my clothes including any outfit changes for events, workouts, photo shoots, etc. I’m always rushing and scatterbrained in the morning, so anything that’s not packed the night before will most likely not make it out of the house with me.” —Theresa
“I like to exercise in the morning, if I can make time. If I want to go to the gym or a class, I will lay out my Lululemon gear the night before. It makes getting up and motivated to move your body early in the a.m. a lot easier.” —Corinna
Pajama party: “In the winter I’ll put on some hot water for a hot-water bottle, put on my pj’s, and then head to bed at around 12:30 to 12:45 a.m. My year-round favorite pajamas are a pair of organic hemp knit ones by Rawganique. Hemp fabric has great insulation properties, so it keeps me warm in the winter and cool in the summer.” —Theresa
“I love Muji organic cotton pajamas, which were a gift from my husband.” —Corinna
The best bed: “I’ve recently started transitioning from a memory foam pillow to sleeping on my back without a pillow to alleviate neck tension. In the winter I like to get cozy in organic cotton-flannel sheets, and in the summer I sleep in crisp cotton percale. I find patterns visually too distracting when I’m trying to wind down, so all my sheet sets are monochrome neutrals.” —Theresa
“I sleep on one sustainable wool-filled pillow with a silk pillowcase—the curly-haired girl essential. I like cream or off-white organic cotton or linen sheets by Coyuchi for the warmer months, and my mustard-colored flannel sheets by Bambeco—which it sadly doesn’t make anymore—plus an organic cotton coverlet by West Elm during the winter.” —Corinna
A moment of calm: “I’m fortunate that I rarely have trouble falling and staying asleep. When I work past midnight and feel too wound up to go straight to bed, I take 10 or 15 minutes to sit on my couch with the lights off, take in the skyline (I have unobstructed views of downtown Manhattan and the Williamsburg Bridge), and practice a gratefulness meditation.” —Theresa
“I just started doing short Headspace meditations with my husband before dinner or going to bed—to help let go of the day and center us for the evening.” —Corinna
Light’s out: “I plug in my phone to charge and will either read the day’s news or scroll through Instagram until I fall asleep, which is usually within a few minutes, around 12:30 to 12:45 a.m.” —Theresa
“I like to spritz my pillow with a lavender linen spray for some more soothing aromatherapy. Yay for being in bed before midnight! I am very much a morning person who enjoys being up at 6 a.m., so getting to bed as early as possible is #Goals.” —Corinna
See more nighttime routines: Y7 Yoga Founder Sarah Larson Levey Ends Each Day With 16oz of Water (and a Good Binge-Watch) This 18-Year-Old Activist Winds Down With Golden Milk and a Gratitude Journal LA’s Coolest Doula Erica Chidi Cohen Winds Down With Audiobooks and Palo Santo