As most of us are now confined to our homes and practising physical distancing, various aspects of our previous normalcy have been forced to change and adapt. And our skin may be feeling the effects too.
The reality is, being cooped up at home with little outdoors time can cause an increase in breakouts and dry skin – especially if you are blasting the aircon all-day at home, the recirculated air inside is drier as compared to the air outside. This dry air is also lower in humidity which can lead to drier skin over an increased period of time.
As such, it’s not surprising to say that your skincare regime will need some fine-tuning. Get started with our list of tips below.
1. Keep breakouts at bay
If you’ve been experiencing skin breakouts, as well as feeling general bouts of anxiety, stress may be the reason why. The primary stress hormone, cortisol, is a recognised trigger for inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis. During this stressful period of time with the ongoing Covid-19 situation, your stress levels may be slowly rising and you may start to notice more breakouts.
Take this opportunity to invest more time in giving your complexion a boost. A quick five-minute nightly facial massage using a roller or your fingers can help to relieve fatigue and increase blood circulation. Not only will it provide some relaxing effects, but improve insufficient blood flow which can lead to dull skin and sallow complexion.
2. Wearing sunscreen
Regardless if you are staying at home all-day, or heading out to exercise for an hour or two, daily use of sunscreen is still important. UVA rays are present all year round and they can contribute to premature ageing. If you are working from home and sitting by the window while soaking in the sun, prolonged UV exposure can risk your skin with sun damage. Apply sunscreen diligently at the start of the day. You can also blend the product with your daily moisturiser so it will seamlessly become a part of your daily routine.
3. Impact of blue light
Your screen time are most likely increased due to staying indoors, and it is important to ensure you are protecting your skin against the harmful blue light emitted by digital devices. This high-frequency, short-wave light can stimulate alertness during daytime, but being exposed to it for too long before bedtime can disrupt your body’s circadian rhythm.
Experts are still studying about the cellular effects of blue light on the skin, but a 2017 study shows that blue light contributes to the formation of free radicals, breaking down elastin and collagen in the skin. When it penetrates deeper into the skin, it can also result in wrinkles and decreased firmness. While the jury is still out on whether blue light truly wreaks havoc on your skin, it can still impact your eye health and sleep pattern. If you are concerned on its effects on your skin, introduce an antioxidant booster to your serum or moisturiser to boost your skin’s defence against these environmental stressors.
4. Give yourself a facial at home
With the ongoing Circuit Breaker measures, we know how it’s not possible to make it down to your acne treatment appointment. Give yourself a mini facial at home – it’s important that you continue to maintain the condition of your skin in the meantime. Exfoliate weekly to remove the dead skin cells that can clog the pores, and reveal new cells underneath. Regular exfoliation, using AHAs and BHAs, will also allow your other skincare products to penetrate the skin more efficiently for maximum benefit.
Use a mud mask to offer your skin a deep cleanse and clear any excess oil from clogging your pores. A hydrating facial mask can also help to inject moisture into your skin and improve elasticity.
If you’re looking to book your next aesthetic appointment post-Circuit Breaker, we offer the Skin Boosters filler treatments to give deep skin hydration. They are Hyaluronic Acid injections that help to improve the hydration and firmness of the skin. Hyaluronic Acid also has several benefits including reducing inflammation, improving acne scars, reducing fine lines, and boosting collagen production. The Skin Boosters will be injected manually or through a device to deposit soft Hyaluronic Acid fillers and promote long-term hydration in the skin.