Quaran-skin: How to Deal With The Damaging Skincare Habits Developed During Quarantine

During the quarantine, everything took a sudden spin. Limited options, restrained movements, isolation – all these have badly impacted our skin. Damaging skincare habits were formed. And truth be told, this paved the way for bad skin. Quarantine gave us quaran-skin.

It’s skin borne from unhealthy quarantine habits like excessive use of skin products, skipping proper skincare routine, unhealthy habits, the list goes on. We took matters into our own hands and without us knowing, this has led to major skincare no-nos.

It’s never too late to do the fixes though. Here, we give you some quarantine skincare solutions to what had been some lockdown skincare slip-ups.

1. DIY Skincare

   This comes with the convenience of getting quick online answers for skincare problems. In the absence of professional advice, you self-diagnose and you self-treat. You randomly use what you assume is good for you without actually being aware of the repercussions.
    
   • Misuse of active ingredients
     Because the options are tempting, you resort to loads of skincare products with strong active ingredients thought to solve some skin problems. AHA, BHA, Retin-A and other actives -– you use them randomly to your liking. Here’s the bad news: misuse and/or overuse of such ingredients often lead to bigger skin problems.
     
     Solution: The skin doesn’t like being overwhelmed with too many products. Hence, you can’t use two strong actives at the same time on the same day. If you have Vitamin C serum for the day, make sure your retinol will only be used at night. If you’re using actives, make sure you’re using sunscreen even if you’re only staying indoors.
      
   • Wrong layering of skincare products
     This means wrongly using products one after the other. Case in point: putting on a moisturizer before serum or applying face oil before a moisturizer. Know that wrong layering of skincare products is a waste of money as ingredients are not properly absorbed.
     
     Solution: When applying your skincare products, the rule is to use the thinnest to the thickest formula. In order, this gives you: facial wash followed by toner, then spot remover, brightening serum, and lastly moisturizer.
      
   • Over exfoliation
     Cleansing brushes, microbead scrubs, retinoids, peeling toners – overuse of these exfoliants is bad for the skin. If you think frequent exfoliation speeds up skin cell renewal, you’re doing it all wrong because it only damages the skin’s moisture barrier. The result: skin irritation, acne, and inflammation.
     
     Solution: Opt for gentle exfoliants and limit your frequency of use. If you’re already using retinoids, there’s no need to use another chemical exfoliant on top of it. Limit exfoliation to three times a week (once or twice for sensitive skin). Stay away from microbead scrubs as they can be too abrasive.
      

2. Skipping Proper Skincare Routine

   During quarantine, staying indoors may have given others the idea that they’re already protected from sun damage. Hence, applying sunscreen is often forgotten or deliberately taken out of the usual routine. Another must-not that has become a habit is skipping on facial moisturizer, simply because “washing is enough”. Likewise, there are those who forgo thorough cleansing of the face, thinking staying indoors doesn’t necessarily expose the face to dirt.
   
   Solution: Make sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine even if you’re indoor. This is because skin-damaging UV rays still come through the windows and through incidental sun exposures. Sunscreen with SPF 30 is recommended. Use moisturizer (yes even if you have oily skin) because aside from maintaining your skin’s moisture balance, this serves as a protective wrap for your skin. Lastly, thoroughly cleanse your face in the morning and before bedtime every day. Even if you’re only staying indoors, know that dirt, gunk and oil accumulate on the face, potentially causing clogged pores and acne.
    

3. Unhealthy Lifestyle

   Over time, some habits formed during the quarantine are actually red flags for the skin. Movie marathons, sugar bingeing, lapses on hygiene, the list goes on.
    
   • Not getting enough sleep prevents the skin from renewing and rejuvenating itself after a long day. It lowers the skin’s pH level which affects the skin’s natural radiance.
   • Likewise, indulging in sweets and dairies also causes skin breakouts because acne-causing bacteria actually feeds on sugar and lactose.
   • Too much time on the cell phone and constant rubbing of the gadget on the face is a silent culprit responsible for the transfer of germs (from the phone) going to the skin. Add too, the friction and heat that irritates the cheek’s skin.
   
   
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   Solution: Get at least 8 hours of deep, restful sleep every day. This allows your skin to repair itself and maintain a healthy pH level to keep your skin glowing. Avoid sugar as much as possible especially from processed foods like pastries, ice cream, and sodas. If the craving for sweets kicks in, picky the healthier option: fruits. Regularly clean and sanitize your cell phones; if constant use can’t be helped, consider using headsets.

Being on quarantine should never be a reason to be amiss on proper skincare routine, especially for acne prone skin. Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc (Lactezin), the Pimple Expert, is an oral acne treatment that has the skin-healing power of Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc working together to help repair the skin. Lactoferrin helps fight pimple-causing bacteria and reduces skin inflammation. Vitamin E protects the skin from free radicals to keep the cells nourished and healthy. Zinc, with its oil regulating properties, helps strengthen the skin barriers and heal the skin. Taken twice a day for at least two weeks, Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc (Lactezin) gives you visible results. With continued use, Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc (Lactezin) also helps prevent pimples from returning.

Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc (Lactezin) is available in all leading drugstores nationwide. You may also purchase online through Lazada and Shopee.

IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

SOURCES:

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/bad-skincare-habits-lockdown
https://www.pokocbd.co.uk/blogs/beauty/skin-care-mistakes
https://brightside.me/inspiration-girls-stuff/10-common-skin-care-mistakes-that-are-damaging-your-face-616160/
https://www.allure.com/story/wear-sunscreen-spf-indoors-dermatologists
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a32747250/bad-skincare-habits/

ASC Reference No. U067P032921LS