How Covid Has Changed Our Skincare and Selfcare Routine for the Better!

Switching to a Natural Deodorant

What most people don’t know about this process, is that you can expect a detox period of 2-4 weeks that may have you smelling abnormally bad. The good news is, now that we are in isolation, you can save the world from experiencing this transition period! In terms of which natural deordorants work and smell nice, we like Native, Hug me by Blume, and No Pong.

Antiperspirant is classified as an over-the-counter drug in both Canada and the U.S. If you have been using antiperspirant since you were a preteen, your body will definitely be dependent on it. When you stop using antiperspirant you will experience a substantial increase in growth of odor-causing bacteria in the underarm area - usually in week 2. You may also feel additional moisture because your body is sweating, which is the body’s natural way to flush out toxins.

Here are a few great articles we found that you can check out to familiarize yourself with what to expect as you make the switch to a natural deodorant. The last article also provides some helpful tips and products to minimize the smelly transition (like underarm scrubs and bacteria killers).

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More Mediation & Mindfullness

At the risk of developing anxiety (and the blemishes that come with it) during this stressful and uncertain time, we’ve taken up daily deep breathing and mindfulness exercises. We highly recommend taking a proactive approach to stress because as we’ve learned (and experts have confirmed) anxiety doesn’t always make itself obvious and it can show up in subtle ways as you avoid it. You might not notice it at first, but it can compound and build up especially these days! It’s so important to take care of your mind as a first priority and meditation (as little as 10 minutes a day) can have hugely positive effects on so many aspects of your wellbeing, skin included!

How to be Mindful Right Now

Focus on your breath for a few minutes. Feel your chest rise and fall, notice the sensation of the breath as it enters and exits your nose. When your mind wanders, simply return your attention to the breath. Focus on the present moment: the here and now. Notice this very moment; it feels good to be alive, right now. To get a sense of mindfulness meditation, you can try one of the guided recordings by Dr. Ronald Siegel, an assistant clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. They are available for free at www.mindfulness-solution.com.

You can also reduce anxiety by doing things you enjoy that also take you mind off anxious thoughts. Some ideas include making a puzzle, painting, or enjoying some relaxation time with a face mask. Try any of our DIY home skincare face masks!

How can anxiety impact your skin and cause breakouts?

Acne is the result of bacteria in the skin and skin oils. When you have anxiety, several changes occur that may lead to acne breakouts:

  • Hormone Fluctuations Stress hormones released during anxiety cause changes in your pores and possibly an increase in skin oils. This combination clogs pores, allowing bacteria to grow, ultimately leading to acne. This is the most common link between anxiety and acne.

  • Sweat Sweat doesn't actually cause most facial acne. That's a myth. But sweat may increase the amount of body acne you experience (since sweating and rubbing can create some forms of acne), and sweating may cause dirt and germs to be more likely to live and stick to your skin.

  • Behaviors Anxiety may also cause various behaviors that increase the likelihood of an acne breakout. For example, anxiety may cause you to touch your face more. Touching your face doesn't necessarily cause acne (that is also a myth), but too much facial touching may cause you to spread bacteria that could conceivably lead to acne breakouts.

Source: https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/acne-treatment

Au Natural - A Makeup Free Skin Detox

Less makeup and more fresh skin! It’s the perfect time to press reset on your skin and allow it to naturally balance out, detox itself, and get used to not having makeup on everyday! It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of covering imperfections as you tend to create blemishes by clogging up skin with lots of makeup. In addition, the process of removing makeup properly takes dedication and even the most practiced of skincare experts can leave behind traces of the days dirt and oil from the work day. Now is your chance to purge your skin with daily clarifying face masks. Let your skin break out and recover the way it’s supposed to. We usually never have the time to let skin heal naturally but here is your chance!

A New Skincare Routine

To avoid Covid19 after leaving our homes, it’s important to wash your hands for 20 seconds with hot water and soap (as we know). However, we take the extra precaution of washing our face more often than we normally would. Over-0washing can wash away essentials oils, over-dry skin, and cause it to start producing excess oil in defence. To avoid this cycle, we make sure to use a very gentle face wash, like Spectro-gel or Cerave for dry skin. We’re also making sure to apply a multi-purpose serum like the Buffet serum from the Ordinary. This one isn’t too costly, but it makes sure that we are adding back the essential hydration our skin needs to stay healthy and balanced. While we’re at it, we like to use our jade roller to help relax! We then apply our regular moisturizer to lock it all in. You can save your priciest serums for your night-time routine.

Skin, BeautyLindsay BovairdCovid, Natural, Self-Care, Anti-Perspirant, Deodorant, Skincare Routine, detox