As a makeup artist and esthetician who’s worked in LA for over a decade, my obsession with feeling beautiful inside and out is what drives me to keep making a difference in the field of healthy skin. Keeping skin healthy during the most insane and unpredictable time in our lives, however, has become something entirely different. My heart breaks for all the suffering that’s come out of this virus; I haven’t remained unaffected either. I went from giving fifty to sixty custom facials in a week to zero in a matter of days. I was terrified for my families health and then financial state. I felt hopeless and overwhelmed, and found myself stuck in bed paralyzed by fear for what was to come. Thankfully, my wonderful boyfriend was able to help me pull myself out, and I realized that in the wake of COVID-19 there was something new on the horizon.
Over the next month, texts and calls started to flood in from clients who needed to develop new skincare routines for themselves now that they were stuck at home. I started to make custom at-home facial kits for my clients, which included all the ingredients I’d use in my salon, adapted for them to apply themselves. I drove around delivering kits to mailboxes in my mask and gloves, working hard to help people take care of themselves and their skin during this trying time. In each kit I’d include a homemade custom peel, a treatment mask, a hydrating mask and moisturizer, giving my clients everything they could need to weather this pandemic while maintaining self care. After the first month, orders began to pour in, and I was mailing my products to my clients’ mothers, sisters, and best friends; news of my at-home kits had spread, and people were excited for the chance to show their skin a little TLC while sheltering in place. Not only was it encouraging to be able to continue following my passion, but these orders helped my family stay afloat. In return for my kits I asked that clients pay me whatever amount they were able to contribute, so that they could take care of their skin no matter their situation. Some people were so incredibly generous in such a hard season, and my heart couldn’t be fuller. I think we’ve all learned so much about ourselves; how strong we are and how much we can help each other in so many different ways.
After a few months, I started realizing that this pandemic would bring new skincare needs. Many of my clients started developing “mascne,” tiny bumps along the jawline and cystic acne higher up on the cheeks. Wearing masks all day, combined with stress and lifestyle changes, meant my clients needed new skincare solutions, and I’ve been hard at work to meet their needs. Here are my recommendations for keeping your skin healthy, even as we buckle down to get through this pandemic together.
Good Mask Hygiene Can Prevent Breakouts
Wearing a face mask regularly can cause a bunch of problems, from clogged pores to allergic reactions. To prevent bumps and acne, make sure you change your mask on a daily basis, and if you wear cloth masks, always wash them after wear with a clean, unscented detergent to avoid skin sensitivity.
If you wash and change your masks regularly but still have bumps, a lactic acid or light glycolic once a day can help provide a little extra boost.
If you’re working out in a mask, make sure to clean your face before and after, or at least use a wipe to get the sweat off of your face after your workout. I’d recommend Simply Wipes for a nice, thorough clean.
Try a Lymphatic Drain for Puffy Eyes
I noticed that in quarantine, many of my clients started developing dark, puffy eyes, either from a lack of sleep, additional stress, or developing a sweet tooth in lockdown.
I have a wonderful lymphatic drain for the eye area; anyone can practice it at home for just two minutes a day, and it really works. Using either your thumb or one of those jade rollers everyone seems to have these days, apply a little lotion or moisturizer to your skin. Apply your thumb or roller to the center of your eye right next to your nose, drag outward to your temple, and then move down the side of your neck in one easy action. Do ten to twenty of these for each eye and you’ll notice results right away.
Make Sure Your Lifestyle Supports Healthy Skin
I believe healthy skin is an inside/outside job. For healthy skin, make sure you’re eating a lot of greens and getting enough vitamins C, D, A and all the Bs, as well as omega 3. Try limiting processed sugar and fried foods, as these can lead to breakouts. Drinking water is also important; your body will always thank you for being hydrated! Some people can also notice big changes just from limiting other things in their diets like dairy and alcohol. If you’re really curious, try keeping a daily log of what you eat every day and your skin’s reaction. You might be surprised at the foods that are impacting your skin without you even knowing.
Be Smart About What You Put on Your Skin
Most creams really are just barriers that protect your skin but don’t actually enter it. Sometimes people can end up spending a ton of money on products that don’t even penetrate the skin, as your pores are really only open at night or when manipulated. If you really want that treatment cream or serum to make a difference, make sure you use them at night before bed when your pores will be able to absorb them.
Simple Is Best
Trying the newest skin peel or mask can sound really appealing, but sometimes keeping things simple and slow can be the kindest option for your skin. If you’re constantly trying new things, your natural production of skin oils can get severely confused. You can end up drying your skin out, over-moisturizing, or stripping your skin of its natural oils. If you want healthy skin, listen to yours and remember that less is more.
