COVID-19 Quarantine Skincare Tips

,In early 2020, town after town began recommending "social distancing" as a means of slowing the spread of the deadly Corona Virus.  Over time, recommendations turned into Governor demands to "shelter in place".  Now, nearly all Non-Essential Businesses have been shut down and we are quarantining at home.  As if "normal" life wasn't stressful enough, now we have the added chaos of cooped up kids and their deafening screams, or the loneliness of days and days alone.  So how do we turn it all around?  With a little self care, of course!  Below I have put together some helpful tips and tricks to help you destress AND get your Glow On while you are trapped in your home.

Tip #1- Don't forget to wash your face

If you are like me, you probably haven’t put a stitch of makeup on since they told you to keep your distance from other people.  If no one is going to be close enough to see me, what’s the point?!  But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to wash your face.  Over the course of the day your skin is constantly reacting to the environment, trying to protect you from the oxidative stress caused by pollution, the sun, and all sorts of harmful pathogens.  Just because you can’t see how hard it’s working, doesn’t mean it isn’t. You may be a little lazier about your routines these days but at the very least, make sure you are washing the day away every evening.   I recommend following up with a moisturizer with antioxidants to help your skin keep fighting those free radicals while you sleep.  If the extra time at home is inspiring you to go the extra mile, consider doing a double cleanse.  First with an Oil Cleanser to start to break down the pore clogging sebum and second with a water based cleanser to remove and residual oil cleanser and water soluble debris.  PS. Water based does not necessarily mean foaming or bubbling cleanser.  For sensitive and dry skin types, chose a Cream or Milk Cleanser, massage into damp but not wet skin for 60 Seconds and then rinse.
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​Tip #2- Get plenty of sleep

 When you don’t get enough sleep the stress hormone cortisol increases in the body.  Not only is cortisol partially responsible for a little extra weight gain (the quarantine potato chip consumption is responsible for the other half) but it also increases inflammation which can in turn cause flare ups in skin conditions like Acne, Rosacea, and Eczema.  Since you have never had time on your hands like this before, don’t skimp on that Beauty Sleep!






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​Tip #3- Have fun with it!

We have all been stuck at home for weeks now. Some of us are ready to kill our families and some of us are feeling isolated. Whichever you are, you can use your skincare routine as an opportunity to inject some fun and joy into your life. If you are still working, that could mean ordering some new skincare products to play around with. There are some seriously adorable Korean Sheet masks out there that will surely put a smile on your face. If you aren’t working these days, like me, then you might consider more of a DIY approach. Nature is chocked full of powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory  ingredients if you know where to look!   Check out this fun one I did with my kids!

​Soothing Cucumber Mask

What you'll need:

2-3 inch length of Cucumber

1 tsp Honey

1 tsp Aloe Gel (preferably with no fragrance or alcohol)

Either 1tsp Avocado Oil for a Sheet Mask
OR 1/4 Fresh Smashed Avocado for Cream Mask
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Gauze-like material if you are doing the Sheet Mask

Directions:

• Using a cheese grater, shred the cucumber into a small bowl lined with cheese cloth or a paper towel.  Squeeze out all of the cucumber juice and discard the cloth and pulp
• Add the remaining ingredients for either Sheet Mask OR Cream Mask and stir until all components have been combine
• For the Avocado Oil Sheet Mask Option, Soak your sheet mask medium in the liquid and squeeze out the excess while still allowing the sheet to be well saturated.  Apply the gauze material to the skin as evenly as possible and let sit for 20 minutes.  Rinse off excess and follow with your favorite toner and moisturizer. (You can order pre-made sheet mask gauze from somewhere like Amazon, or you can make your own.  Cut out holes for the eyes, mouth and nose in a sheet of paper towel or cut up an old shirt made out of light weight material.)
• For the Fresh Avocado Cream Mask option, after the avocado has been well incorporated into the mixture, apply to the face evenly and let sit for 20 minutes.  Rinse and Apply Moisturizer.

How does it work?

• Cucumber is full of Vitamin C and Caffeic Acid, which are both powerhouse antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect against sun damage.
• Honey has been used in skincare since the ancient Egyptians.  It has natural antibacterial, antiseptic and wound healing properties, making it a good choice for acne skin.  Honey is also a humectant which means it attracts water to hydrate dry skin.  Honey is great for everyone!
• Aloe is known around the world for its' ability to sooth a sunburn.  These wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects make it a great option for sensitive and acne skin types.  It's also amazingly moisturizing for all skin types Oily to Dry.
• Avocado is chocked full of  Vitamins C & E which are strong antioxidants that penetrate the skin beautifully to aid in collagen synthesis.  And just like all of the other ingredients, avocado has powerful anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties making this mask the perfect DIY Skincare choice for everyone, but especially Sensitive and Acneic skin types.

I got my DIY Skincare Glow On!