Lockdown 2021: Skincare Guide for Clear & Healthy Skin

One year into the pandemic, and we’re still living in lockdown, away from all kinds of social events, and public spaces, and with no set routines to follow. But what is this haphazard routine doing to our skin? Many people think that since we don’t go out or wear makeup these days, leaving our skin alone is the best thing we can do, allowing it to ‘breathe.’ However, a complete lack of a skincare routine is just as damaging as an over-application of chemical products. 

Even while you’re at home, you do need a regular skincare routine. Here is your complete lockdown skincare guide to tackle all these problems and keep your skin soft, smooth, and glowing. Here are some tips for skin care to follow during the lockdown.

• 1. Follow CTM Religiously: Just because you don’t go out and face dirt and pollutants, it doesn’t make your skin immune to other forms of damage. Whatever you do or don’t do at home, never skip your CTM routine. Use mild cleanser morning and night to ensure your face is always clean and fresh. A toner can help tighten pores and restore the pH of the skin. Moisturizing is also important, and use a moisturizer suitable for your skin and the weather.
• 2. Don’t Skip Sunscreen: It’s a common misconception that you don’t need sunscreen if you’re indoors. The truth is that UV rays can enter even through glass windows and can damage your skin just as if you were outside. Sun damage is the main cause of signs of premature aging as well as serious illnesses like cancer. Use sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 20.
• 3. Use Vitamin C Products: Vitamin C is the buzzword in beauty and skincare these days, and being in lockdown is all the more reason to use it. Even if we are not subject to pollutants, there are many other ways free radicals attack our skin. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight free radical damage and rejuvenate your skin. While you can use any Vitamin C products, a serum is the best way to get the active ingredients directly into the skin.
• 4. Don’t forget Night Time Care: As we spend day after day at home, hours blend into each other, and we lose the sense of what time it is. However, following a specific skincare regimen for day and night is crucial so that your skin gets what it needs at each time. Nighttime is when the skin undergoes repair and regeneration of skin cells. Choose night cream with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, or retinol.
• 5. Indulge in a Face Massage: If you miss out on your weekly or monthly facial, there’s no need to – you can give yourself a face massage right at home. A face massage is a great way to stimulate blood circulation, promote lymph drainage and improve the contour of the face. You can use many massage techniques for this, from Japan, France, and our very own Ayurveda. Another great option is to use a chilled jade roller across the face to get all these benefits of massage, along with some serious de-stressing advantages.
• 6. Focus on your Diet: Being under lockdown and having more time on our hands has led to many unhealthy eating, especially as a part of stress eating. Processed foods packed with salt and sugar can trigger inflammation and glycation, damaging the quality of the skin. Too many carbohydrates can also increase insulin which can cause acne. Focus on getting 2-3 liters of water a day, along with foods rich in water, nutrients, and healthy fats. Probiotic-rich food improves gut health that also leads to healthy skin and hair.
• 7. Don’t Overdo It: When you’re stuck at home and on social media all day, it can be tempting to try out all kinds of DIY treatments and face masks. However, not everything natural may be right for your skin. Too many products or too much experimentation can damage the skin barrier and cause problems like breakouts, dryness, redness, rashes, and allergies. Stick to products and ingredients that you know work for you, so you don’t have to risk rushing to the doctor in the middle of lockdown.

Keep it simple and go back to the basics at this point. Carry out your regular routine with products that you know are safe. Consistency is key here, so avoid skipping steps at any time even if you feel it’s okay ‘just this time. Along with a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and enough exercise, you’ll have healthy, glowing skin by the time you emerge from the lockdown.