Now that we’re in the nitty-gritty of quarantine life, you might (like me) be questioning how to maintain your hair, skin, and nails, as you did only a few short weeks ago. It’s not a secret, that for safety and social distancing concerns, all NYC nail salons, spas, and beauty shops alike were forced to halt operations. All this added free time, may have you wanting to experiment, especially when it comes to your skin. Unsure of what you should or shouldn’t be doing? Well, you’re in luck! as I’m going to lay down some tips to keep that skin FLAWLESS for the weeks to come.
Smooth it Out
Whatever you do, DO NOT give in to waxing yourself! During these times of being homebodies, your hairs will get misshaped and longer than you’re used to. The safest and most sanitary thing to do is to trim the hairs and wait until it’s safe to go get professionally waxed again.
DO treat yourself to an at-home spa-like facial. Not being able to book a trained esthetician, (check me out above) can be a real pain right now, but I definitely encourage you to try SAFE and effective facials at home. The basics of a good facial are:
1-Cleanser
2-Toner
3-Exfoliant
4-Mask
5-Serum
6-Moisturizer
Some of my favorites can be found here! Decide on your products, light a candle, draw a bath and use this time to unplug and decompress from all that’s going on in the world right now.
Leave it to the Pros
DO NOT attempt any type of professional treatments at home. This includes microneedling, dermarolling, the use of lancets or any other tools to perform extractions. Unless you are a trained professional, you’re setting yourself up for disaster, and the risk of scarring and damaging your skin permanently is significantly higher.
If blackheads and or/clogged pores are your concern, DO try a clay mask with ingredients like sulfur or salicylic acid. Seeking skin rejuvenation and a natural glow? Jade rollers and gua sha stones are great options.
Keep It Clean
DO NOT by any means dip your fingers directly into your products! Underneath our fingernails are a breeding ground for bacteria. Instead, opt for a mini spoon or spatula to dispense the product out. If you MUST use your fingers…
DO always always always sanitize! This means washing your hands and sanitizing your product containers before (and preferably after) use. Remember the number one way to stop the spread of germs is to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Also, when you do wash your hands, be sure it’s with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, which are now all familiar with.
Every Day DO’s
DO still wear sunscreen, indoors, daily! That is unless you live in a bunker 24 hours a day. No seriously, UVA rays can and will penetrate through windows, leaving you prone to the same damage as if you were outside unprotected which include photo-aging — dark spots, wrinkles, and textured skin. It might be tempting to skip sunscreen indoors but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Some of my favorite sunscreens and SPF moisturizers at the moment are from Supergoop, Paula’s Choice and Biore.
There’s a lot of extra time on our hands right now, so what better time than to finally organize that all those skincare products! DO start by checking for expired products. Look for this symbol 
on the back of your products, which indicates how long the product will be good for AFTER opening. Most unopened skincare products should last 1-2 years if stored in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
Lastly, DO stick to your normal skincare routine every day! Even on the days, you have nothing planned, still treat your skin as if you were going about your normal day to day life. That means cleansing twice daily, exfoliating at least once a week, and hydrating your skin, no matter your skin type!
If you’re looking to incorporate a new product like retinol or one with active ingredients, be sure to always patch test before using, and remember that less is more! Start off with 1-2 days a week, and then you can gauge your skin’s tolerance from there.
Here’s a virtual high five, to managing and keeping up with your skincare regimen throughout this time.
