Since we don’t have access to a full spa facial treatment right now it’s time to go back to basics. Clean, nourished skin is easy to achieve at home and will allow you to maintain a happy healthy complexion while in isolation. Here are my 5 isolation skin care tips to keep your skin happy, healthy and glowing.
My 5 PRACTICAL ISOLATION SKIN CARE TIPS TO GIVE YOUR SKIN THE LOVE AND GLOW IT DESERVES.
1 – CLEANSE YOUR FACE MORNING AND NIGHT:
Cleansers are the unsung heroes of the skincare world. They do so much good for our skin. They remove dirt particles, sweat, oil, drool, dust and so much more from the surface of our skin. Clean skin equals skin that is able to breathe, regenerate and maintain balanced sebum (natural oil) production. When our skin is congested it loses its ability to absorb our skincare properly and its acid mantle becomes imbalanced. This can lead to a slew of issues including premature aging, excessive dehydration or oiliness, clogged pores and textured skin.
Pro tip: A cream cleanser is the best option for almost all skin types. Creamy cleansers are gentle and effective. Use morning and night by massaging into your skin and rinse off with warm water.
This one from Jouviance is fantastic and is suitable for most skin types: Jouviance Cream Cleanser
However, if you’re in a pinch, a cleansing towelette is another amazing option. They are so easy to use you can cleanse your skin from the comfort of your bed. My favourites are these from Burt’s Bees: Burt’s Bees Cleansing Towlettes
2 – MOISTURISE!
Just do it and your skin will be so grateful. Our skin loses water throughout the day which leads to a dry and dehydrated appearance. Moisturiser’s are humectants, which means they trap the moisture from escaping and keeps it on our epidermis. This is why moisturisers give our skin a plumper firmer appearance. Not only do moisturisers feel wonderful to apply they also play an integral part in reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, balancing oil production and smoothing out skin texture.
PRO TIP: If you’re not sure what moisturiser to invest in, I highly recommend purchasing something that contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants which protect the skin from free radicals and stimulates cell regeneration and ultimately gives our skin, a radiant youthful glow. My favourite Vitamin C enriched products are from Neostrata! You will not believe the glow your skin will have : Neostrata Vitamin C complex
If you want to give your skin the ultimate Vitamin C boost then treat yourself to these Neostrata Vitamin C capsules :
3 – EXFOLIATE
Washing your face is important as I mentioned above but exfoliating will take your skin to new heights. As we get older our skins natural ability to shed dead skin cells slows down dramatically. This layer of dead skin sits on the surface of our skin creating a barrier between our skin care and healthy new cells. Dead skin cells can also make our skin look dull and accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. Exfoliating twice a week will slough off your dead skin cells and reveal new heathy cells.
Additional benefits: Your skin will feel smoother, will look radiant, your pores will appear smaller. In addition, regular exfoliating combats any pigmentation concerns you may have.
This exfoliating peel spray from Juice Beauty is life changing ! You should definitely check this out of your skin is looking dull and needs an instant pick me up: Juice Beauty Peel Spray
If you don’t have an exfoliant on hand, try my DIY recipe in my post about exfoliating: Reasons to Exfoliate
4 – USE A SKINCARE MASK TWICE A WEEK
Not only is masking a luxurious treat, but masks also contain potent, active ingredients that give your skin a boost. Masks are amazing for targeting specific skincare concerns such as dehydrated skin. Opt for a hydrating mask as this will provide your skin the hydration it’s craving. For oilier complexions masks that are detoxifying or contain charcoal are best.
If you are not able to find the time to mask there are overnight sleep mask options available. This is a personal favourite because all it requires is applying and going to sleep. You can rinse off any debris during your morning shower. For a mask that will give you intense hydration and leave your skin looking plump and lifted. You must give this Black Tea overnight lifting mask from Fresh a try : Black Tea overnight mask
Pro tip: The best time to use a skincare mask is after you exfoliate. New skin cells that are revealed after exfoliation are ready to soak up and all the resulting goodness will be amplified!
It’s always a treat to buy yourself a luxurious skin care mask. But if you like the idea of DIYing here’s a blog post I wrote with my favourite DIY face mask recipes : DIY MASKS WITH INGREDIENTS FROM YOUR KITCHEN
5- SPF – YOU didn’t think I was going to talk about skincare and not mention SPF, did you?
This one is mandatory! Pop some SPF on in the morning to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. A lot of us have taken to outside exercising and gardening and while doing so we must make sure we are protecting our skin from the sun. Sun damage can include : premature aging, pigmentation and dark spots and potential for various types of skin cancers.
PRO TIP: Use mineral based SPF’s as these are chemical free and are best for our skin and our environment.
Here’s another fabulous all organic option from Juice Beauty : Oil free SPF
MENTAL HEALTH AND SELFCARE
As a former social worker and Psychology major / with a master’s in social work, I am a huge self- care advocate. Taking care of our Mental health is as important as taking care of our skin. You’ve heard the phrase you can’t pour from an empty cup? It’s 100% true. If you don’t make time to recharge yourself, depression and anxiety can become prevalent. Taking 5 minutes a day to take care of your skin can also help boost your mood and self-confidence.
I hope you enjoyed my 5 Isolation Skin-Care Tips. Remember, good skin is always in. Even if no one sees it!
Xo Shira
Here’s a link to the online contribution I did for Global News discussing the importance of following a skin care routine while isolating :
