The consecutive lockdowns have been strange for our skincare habits. Some of us have thrown us into our routines, embracing extensive regimes and following them diligently. On the other hand, there is another group of people who’ve utterly given up on their skincare practices (myself included), because taking out time for that seems… pointless.
If you’re someone who belongs to the second group of people, welcome! I know exactly how trapped you feel between the guilt of not taking care of your skin and the effort that actually goes into looking after it. And, if like me, you’re looking to getting back to slowly building your skincare routine, here are some tips.
Simplify it
Following a 10-step routine is not for the uninitiated, and if just the thought of doing your skincare feels like a chore, an extensive regime will definitely put you off. The solution? Keep things simple. Cleanse and apply a moisturiser twice a day and sunscreen in the mornings. If you can, use a chemical exfoliator and mask once a week, along with a vitamin C serum daily.
Do your skincare as soon as you step out of the shower
Did you know, doing your routine on damp skin helps products penetrate and work better? This is because your moisturiser will add more hydration to your skin and seal that in. Plus, if you do your day and night-time routine as soon as you’ve stepped out of the shower, you won’t feel like it is an extra step or that you have to put in extra time and effort to do it.
Gather all your products in one place
Display it on a pretty tray, or pack it in a pouch but for the sake of your routine, keep everything in one place! If your products are scattered all over your bathroom and vanity, you will never stick to a skincare regime.
Make it fun
Putting on your make-up with music blasting in the background is fun and doing your skincare the same way can be great too! Just enjoy the process. At the same time, if you skip a day or two, don’t beat yourself up about it. Try to be as consistent as you can, and treat it as a grounding practice.
Keep a tab on your progress
If you know something works favourably for you, you’re more likely to be regular with it. For this very reason, take a picture of yourself before you jump back on the bandwagon or even before you incorporate a new product into your routine. Check again after four to six weeks, and see how your skin has fared.