So we are all holed up in our homes. Well, most of us, anyway.
It’s fun to be on a break from work but boredom is quick to set in. Our days in quarantine need as much structure as our days at work or how they were before isolation was imposed on hundreds of millions of members of the general public.
It’s time to establish some good habits so that when life, at long last, resumes ‘normalcy’, we are better off for having spent all this alone time.
Good skincare is always an excellent habit to cultivate. Even if you are tempted to skimp on your usual skincare routine, because you are bored, gloomy, too into the series you have been binge-watching on Netflix, or are just getting addicted to lazing around and sleeping at odd hours, make sure your skin does not suffer. It’s stressful times, and stress is bad for the skin. Being at home also predisposes one to making unhealthy food choices, which is even worse for the skin.
So, here’s my top tip for you – no matter the circumstances, no matter the time of the year, no matter whether you feel up to it or not, make your skincare sacrosanct.
Here are some basic ways in which you can take good care of your skin in quarantine.
Sleep on time and wake up on time. Try not to nap in the afternoons if you are not used to it.
It’s alright to wake up an hour later than usual but don’t change your sleep timings drastically. A good night’s sleep is the solid foundation on which physical and mental health is built.
If you must nap in the afternoon, go for power naps. It’s tempting to stay in bed longer than we are used to during a time of isolation but it can quickly turn into a negative habit.
Eat healthy and clean. If you must gorge on anything, gorge on fruit (and pistachios)
You now have the time to juice. You now have the time to cook elaborate meals. You now have the time to prepare fruit salad. You also have the time to look up online healthy and time-saving meals for when life eventually returns to the grind. The skin benefits directly from what we eat. So now is a good time to watch one less episode of a series and instead use that time towards creating a healthy nutritious meal.
Meditate, because these are stressful times
Find ways to fight the gloom around you. The skin suffers when the body and mind suffer, and the skin benefits when the body and mind recover. Meditation is the best technique I know of managing stress. Prayer is another. It could be a hobby that does it for you. Whatever it is, take care of your mind as much as that of your body. Limit electronic media content consumption to 2 to 3 hours a day and wrap up your bingewatching by 9 or 10 pm (hey, I’m being realistic here). Your eyes need a break, your mind needs a break, and your body needs to go into a deep sleep to rejuvenate.
Wash your face at least twice a day, and exfoliate 2 to 3 times a week
Washing your face is a no-brainer, but I find exfoliation is especially important for healthy skin.
I prefer natural ingredients for exfoliation. My go-to is the classic Indian remedy – a paste of milk, besan (chickpea flour), and turmeric. But it doesn’t quite work in humid weather. So, at other times I use a mix of ground coffee (used), cocoa powder, sweet almond oil, and a pinch of baking soda. Be very gentle with the application, however. Facial skin is sensitive.
My oily face is squeaky clean after this. The use of sweet almond oil means I don’t necessarily need to follow up with a moisturizer. Sweet almond oil is non comedogenic so it does not break me out, unlike olive oil or coconut oil. Find the oil that suits you.
If you know of any good exfoliation tips, please share them in the comments below.
Keep up the use of serum every night
Whichever serum suits you, make it a point to apply it twice a day, failing which, at least once, preferably in the night before going to bed.
If there’s NOTHING else you do after washing your face, make sure you apply your serum and eye cream.
Use a natural face pack twice a week
You now have the time to apply a face pack made of fresh ingredients and let it sit for however long you need to. Find the one best suited for your skin and use it regularly. Here are the ones that do not break me out.
1. Mashed banana applied on the face leaves my skin feeling soft and nourished.
2. Equal parts coffee, cocoa powder, and milk make for an easy and effective face pack, which leaves me with a discernible glow (but might not work in hot and humid weather).
3. Multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) is the traditional go-to for oily-skinned folks in the subcontinent. Add a little turmeric for anti-septic benefits.
Try Arjun chal powder
This is an Ayurvedic product made from the bark of the Arjun tree. It was recommended to me by an accomplished Ayurvedic practitioner for my bouts of acne.
Arjun chal powder is to be applied in the night on a clean and dry face. Leave it on the skin for at least half an hour (every other day, if not every day). You might want to find some free time for this as you would have to lie down. The powder doesn’t mix well with water and may run down your face if not mixed properly. But it’s worth the mess!
The results are very impressive. It gives the skin a rosy glow, while also containing acne and acne scars on the face. This worked wonderfully for me but might not be suitable for everyone. I, however, still recommend it, because if it does work for you, it’s an amazing find. It’s available online and at Ayurvedic stores.
Use a facial oil
I’m a huge believer in the power of essential oils. If you are, too, continue using them.
If not, use a facial oil. I am, at the moment, using the Nykaa anti-acne facial oil and it is working well on my skin. (You can read my review of the product here.) My skin is clearer, glowing, and the pimples seem to have settled down.
If, however, you are new to essential and facial oils, this might not be a good time to get started due to the restrictions on the online delivery of non-essential items. Finding the right essential oils for the skin is a matter of trial and error and should be left to more relaxed times.
And last, but not the least, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE OUTSIDE OF THE SKINCARE REGIMEN.
I’m not saying this just to keep you safe from any viruses. People with oily and acne-prone skin should make it a point not to touch their face at all, coronavirus or no coronavirus. Touching the face leads to the spread of the bacteria, which worsens the acne. So, wash your hands, clean your face, and carry out your skincare regimen religiously. But outside of that, do not touch the face at all.
Also, change your pillow cover each night. If that is too much, drape it with a silk cloth each night and wash it in the morning to be used again later that night.
Let me know what you think of these tips. Also, please share how are you taking care of your own skin in quarantine.
