Tips For Healthy Skincare Routine During Pandemic
Most of us now have to work from home because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, most cosmetic treatments such as laser and botox treatments are not available in beauty clinics. As a result, your skin may look dry and dull, pimples start to appear, dark spots that have been removed for a long time seem to be coming back. What should you do?
Drink enough
Hydration is the fundamental foundation for healthy skin cells. Skin cells will deteriorate rapidly without adequate hydration. Skin hydration comes in two forms: the water you drink and topical moisturizers applied to the skin. The water molecules we drink automatically replenish the natural hyaluronic acid molecules in our skin. This process provides hydration and essential nutrients for the skin so that the skin remains supple and healthy. However, sheer hydration may be inadequate especially in the skin at an advanced age or damaged by the sun. This is a great time to hydrate your skin with a moisturizer and hyaluronic acid serum. Apply a regular moisturizer even when you are at home, especially if you will be working in an air-conditioned room all day.
Clean the skin at least twice a day
We may not use make-up while at home, but don't be lazy to clean your face thoroughly. The absence of facial services that we usually do in salons or beauty clinics for a few weeks should not be a disaster for the skin, as long as we do proper cleaning at home twice a day. Choose a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. For oily or acne-prone skin, consider using a foam cleanser. For aged skin, use a more moisturizing cleanser such as a cream-based cleanser.
Use sun protection
Even though we will be at home, don't forget to use sunscreen. For some of you who are at home, the sun's UV rays will still enter, especially if you prefer good ventilation and always open windows and curtains. Sunscreen protects the skin from UV damage, pigmentation formation, and skin cancer. Even brief exposure to the sun can cause damage to the skin. Choose a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection, and with an SPF of 30 and above. The important thing to remember is, wearing a mask is not enough to protect the skin from the sun. A good quality sunscreen is needed if you don't want that awful skin pigment to surface.
Use a good quality serum
Sometimes, basic skincare that combines a moisturizer and sunscreen may not be good enough, especially for mature skin and sun-damaged skin. Add serum as needed to provide additional protection to the skin. A good serum can serve as a strong ally for a basic skincare routine and target specific problems such as skin pigmentation, wrinkles, and large pores. Some examples of useful skin serums are hyaluronic acid serums, vitamin C serums, and serum peptides. This serum also provides long-term anti-aging benefits.
Exercise regularly
Now that we don't have to travel to work, there's no excuse not to take the time to exercise. If you can't exercise outside, work out at home. Exercising at home had even become a trend before Covid-19 hit. Regular 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week not only improves overall health but also improves blood circulation to the skin, thereby bringing more essential nutrients and hydration to the skin. Exercise can also reduce stress hormones, stimulate skin collagen production, increase overall muscle tone which makes skin look firmer, and reduces the appearance of cellulite.
Healthy diet
During the period at home alone, this is an excellent time to reassess our diet. Remember, we are what we eat. A nutritionally balanced diet contributes to healthy skin. Foods rich in vitamin C and antioxidants benefit the skin, and protect the skin from environmental free radical damage and act as anti-aging ingredients in the skin. On the other hand, fatty and high sugar foods can affect the quality of the skin. Sugar binds to collagen and elastin in the skin through glycation, which makes the skin age prematurely
Get enough sleep
Don't underestimate the power of sleep. Adequate rest and sleep are important for maintaining healthy skin. When you sleep at night, your skin will start to repair itself. This skin repair process also produces more collagen and elastin which makes the skin more youthful. In addition, adequate sleep also keeps our stress hormones under control. This directly benefits our skin, as stress hormones usually cause acne and pigmentation formation. Chronic lack of sleep causes the skin to dry out, wrinkle and age faster. This can also cause dark circles and eye bags, making you look old and tired. So, get more sleep.
