In an age of video conferencing, with unflattering lighting in home offices and laptop camera angles, we are faced with our own image every day. Few of us relish the idea of staring at ourselves 24/7 and would prefer to go into camera off mode more often.
But in a socially distant world, our appearances receive more attention and scrutiny than ever before. While beauty (and certainly a judge of competence) shouldn’t be skin deep, from both a presentation and self-esteem perspective, looking good has never been further up the agenda.
But if you are new to having a regular skincare regime, where do you start?
Getting Zoom ready
Good skincare is simple, according to Amish Patel, director and aesthetics practitioner at the Intrigue Cosmetics Clinic: “Cleanse, treat, hydrate and protect. These are the crucial four steps to great skin.”
Some products will only do one of these and some will do all, but overall, it is important to ensure these four steps are being followed for your skin.
Cleansing and exfoliation involves removing impurities and dead skin, and Patel adds: “Hydrating the skin helps to maintain its elasticity, improve the general appearance and gives the impression of plumpness and suppleness.
“[Then] protecting your skin from damaging UV rays and the elements is essential to ensure that your skin continually renews healthily."
For those bamboozled by cleaners, exfoliators, moisturisers with countless balms, serums and creams, here are just a couple of the leading brands to consider.
This luxury Spanish skincare brand has been popular since its 1979 launch. One of its most popular products is the Diamond Extreme Cream (pictured above), which retails at £305.
This rich cream fights the signs of ageing and boosts skin’s natural repair and defence mechanisms.
The protective and hydrating formula prevents loss of moisture, diminishing wrinkles and restoring firmness and elasticity.
A leading name in men’s skincare, one of BEYL’s most popular products is the Clima-adaptive Anti-pollution Moisturiser (pictured right) at £85.
Suitable for all skin types, this moisturiser stabilises the skin’s sensory properties for hot, humid, cold or dry climate conditions.
It also shields against air particle pollution and blue-light from tech devices.
Safe hands
Washing our hands more can take a toll on our skin, so consider what the professionals use.
Created by an NHS nurse, Nursem is a range of therapeutic skincare products that uses naturally derived ingredients to help combat against relentless scrubbing and washing.
Try the Nursem Caring Hand Wash (£9.99) which thoroughly cleans hands while protecting the skin’s natural barrier.
This allows hands to stay clean and healthy, but not at the price of sore or raw skin.
Picking the right skincare product
If you want to look further, Dr Michael Barnish (head of nutrition and genetics at REVIV) advises thinking about the nutrients you skin needs.
“The skin moisturises itself, so moisturising it daily can trick the skin into being lazy and once the moisturiser is absorbed, the skin can look dull and dry,” says Dr Barnish.
“I recommend serums and creams that are not moisturising, but more based around introducing good nutrition directly to the skin. Those essential antioxidants and vitamins, A, C, E and COQ10 etc are more beneficial to the face and body.”
More than creams…
Thera-Pearl Eye Mask - £7.00 (FeelGoodContacts)
While this product may not be able to help shut out the light for some sleep, the Thera-Pearl Eye Mask is a therapeutic spa-like treatment developed by eyecare professionals to rejuvenate this skin around your peepers.
This pliable and reusable mask can give your skin some much-needed care after hours of Zoom/Skype/teams calls and can be used hot or cold.
Silk Pillowcase - £47.99 (ThisIsSilk)
Though it may seem extravagant, a silk pillowcase from ThisIsSIlk could pay real dividends to the health and clarity of your face’s skin.
Silk has been scientifically proven to increase the rate of cellular regeneration (in other words, with skin healing and anti-ageing) and improve moisture levels in the skin.
Regular cotton pillowcases absorb moisture (and freshly applied, expensive products!), whereas silk is smoother and much kinder to the skin (and doesn’t waste your hard-earned money).
Skin Woof original vitamins - £24.95 (Skin Woof)
A poor diet will show in our skin. Therefore, consider a specially-designed vitamin like this all-in-one supplement from Skin Woof.
A one-month supply of 60 tablets includes health boosters such as omega 3 & 6, multivitamins (A, C, D, E & K), amino acids, and are rich in collagen to help with skin’s elasticity and hyaluronic acid.
Designed with the help of dermatologists, this can result in healthier and more radiant skin while reducing acne and blemishes.
