During the current crisis, many of us are finding ourselves at home unsure what to do to fill the hours of boredom that have befallen us. Here we go through some of our Self-Isolation Beauty Survival Tips that will not only fill some of your free time but keep your skin looking tip-top.
Detox your makeup collection during self-isolation
Keep your makeup collection germ free by using an antibacterial spray that’s suitable for both products and packaging. Makeup can harbour bacteria along with other diseases, making it essential to keep your collection clean. Remember to regularly wash your brushes and makeup bag, in addition to cleaning out your beauty drawers and/or boxes.
The Pro Hygiene Collection Antibacterial Makeup Sanitising Spray 240ml £16.00
We recommend using The Pro Hygiene Collection Antibacterial Makeup Sanitising Spray. Their special formula kills 99.99% of bacteria within 60 seconds all without affecting makeup performance. Not only is it quick, but also easy to use too! All you do is simply spray it over your makeup plus hard beauty tools/accessories to safely eliminate bacteria.
Use it on:
- pressed and loose powders
- pigments
- gels and creams
- lipsticks
- pencils
- false eyelashes
- hard tools and accessories (tweezers, eyelash curlers etc)
Note: It is not recommended for use on makeup brushes
The Pro Hygiene Collection Antibacterial Makeup Spray prevents regrowth of bacteria between uses. It’s cruelty-free, vegan-friendly and, furthermore, it is made in the UK. We also go into detail about other products that you can use to Clean Your Makeup Sponges – Our Easy & Cheap Hacks here. While you’re at it, why not get rid of all your expired cosmetics! Find out how to tell if your makeup has expired by reading our article that covers How to Tell if Your Makeup is Expired.
Make an eco-move
Satisfy your inner eco-warrior by ditching your facial wipes and making the switch to reusable makeup remover pads. According to EcoVibe – a company on a mission to make plastic history, you’ll save around 15kg of plastic by switching from disposable wipes.
EcoVibe Reusable Makeup Remover Pads (in jar) £20.99
As EcoVibe remind us – every bit of plastic you use and fail to recycle is still out there in landfills or oceans. Not only bad for the environment, but makeup wipes are also inferior skin cleansers and offer little skin health benefits. They may be convenient, but that’s about it!
EcoVibe offers biodegradable, machine washable makeup remover pads that are made from bamboo. You can use these pads with a makeup-removing product to effectively cleanse the skin. This should mean that disposable wipes really should be a thing of the past. Available in packs of 16, with two types included, you’ll get 12 x soft velvet pads for removing makeup along with 4x soft scrub terry pads for exfoliating the skin. Each pad lasts for 100 washes and is suitable for vegans.
Suggested Article: How to create a fully vegan skincare routine.
Formulate your own high-end facial oil during self-isolation
Give high-end cosmetic facial oils a run for their money with our tried and tested blend of skin rejuvenating oils.
As a rule, to make a 50ml facial oil you will need:
- 25ml 100% Rosehip carrier oil – targets signs of ageing, stimulates the production of collagen along with elastin
- 25ml 100% Pomegranate carrier oil – hydrates and revives the outer layer of the skin
- Stirring rod
- Mixing jug
- Bottle of your choice – we recommend amber coloured glass with a dropper cap.
You will also need 5 droplets, of 100%:
- Frankincense essential oil – cell regenerator
- Sandalwood essential oil – combats ageing skin
- Chamomile essential oil – anti-inflammatory
Simply mix the essential oils into the rosehip and pomegranate carrier oil base, pour into your bottle and voila! You have a superior facial oil that would retail from £20 – £100+!
To Use: Massage a few drops onto freshly cleansed skin twice a day (AM and PM) using gentle upward strokes (avoiding the eye area). Finish with an application of your favourite moisturiser.
Alternatively, we suggest checking out Our Best Facial Oil Serums’ For Every Skin Type.
Treat your hair and scalp to some mineral magic
Hair health is adversely affected by stress. Give your tresses an extra treat with celebrity-favourite mineral-rich hair and scalp mask by ESPA. Their best-selling Pink Hair and Scalp Mud is a multiple-use wonder product that can also be used to soften and nourish dry skin on the body. Suitable for all hair and skin types, you can even use it on delicate babies’ skin to treat irritation.
We wouldn’t be without it.
ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud 200ml £34.00
Try out a new protective hairstyle during self-isolation
Since you won’t be leaving the house, it’s the perfect time to give your hair a break from the stresses of styling. Protective hairstyles prevent damage to your hair by reducing the ongoing pulling, tugging and manipulation of your hair. You can act on protecting the end of your hair strands by tucking them away to prevent any knots and tangles. It is also thought to encourage hair growth along with preventing damage. Plus, they look good!
Turn to plants to power up your anti-viral protection and emotional support
Diffusing essential oils with anti-viral and calming properties in your home not only fills the air with delicious scents but works at relaxing us too. Not only do the following essential oils display antiviral activity, but they also calm the nervous system responsible for our fight or flight response. With everyone experiencing an increase in worrying thoughts it can lead to our cortisol (the stress hormone) levels spiking, thus many of us are reacting through our nervous system. Let the natural healing ability of these essential oils offer you support and calm your nerves to bring you back to being in the moment.
- Eucalyptus Lemon Scented – Eucalyptus citriodora
- Bergamot – Citrus bergamia
- Palmarosa – Cymbopogon martinii
Urban Outfitters 3D LED Gala Essential Oil Diffuser £38.00 (was £55.00)
Subscribe to a monthly beauty box during self-isolation and beyond!
A fun and easy way to discover new favourites without leaving your home is by subscribing to a beauty box. Get high-performance products that beauty editors love delivered straight to your door. The bonus here is an aesthetically pleasing box! Let it be your monthly beauty fix. It’s also the perfect way to treat a loved one during the lockdown, furthermore, you could get your friends to subscribe too and review the products together over FaceTime!
GlossyBox £10.00 + P&P monthly subscription or £8.50 + P&P for 12 months
BirchBox.co.uk from £12.95 per month.
BeautyPie.com offers a subscription-based service from £5 per month.
Although not specifically a subscription box, BeautyPie offers a subscription-based service from £5 a month which automatically starts at £50 per month, to purchase their products. Subscription charges vary from £5, £10, £20 or a yearly fee of £99. The amount given to each customer increases as per the subscription charge. (£5 = £50, £10 = £100, £20 = £200)
Protect your hands, nails and cuticles during self-isolation
All that extra hand washing will take its toll on your skin. In particular, you may wish to avoid skin irritation, in addition to dryness, by using a protective cream. We advise that you do so least twice a day. Moreover, it is important to do so after washing your hands to deeply nourish and hydrate your skin.
We love Pro Spa Protective Hand, Nail and Cuticle Cream by OPI. This hand cream is full of active ingredients so it’s the only product you’ll need to keep your hands, nails and cuticles healthy.
For extra nourishment, generously apply the product over your hands, wrap with cling film and cover with warm towels for 20 minutes. It works even better if you’ve got heated mitts!
OPI Prospa Protective Hand, Nail and Cuticle Cream 118ml £21.40
Suggested Article: DIY Home Manicure to Keep Your Nail Polish Lasting Longer.
Achieve that ‘glycolic glow’ without your aesthetic therapist during self-isolation
Upgrade your skincare routine whilst you’re unable to visit your local skin clinic! You can do so by adding a glycolic acid toning solution. It’s the easiest and safest way to introduce acid into your at-home skincare routine.
Known for its superior exfoliation properties and skin renewal benefits, glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid. This type of facial acid is one that is loved by skin health professionals. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is available at just £6.80, plus it firmly features on our most loved products list.
Use once per day, ideally in the PM.
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (240ml) £6.80
Finally, master that one makeup-look that eludes you!
What’s that one makeup look you just can’t achieve? The smokey eye? Winged eyeliner? Vampire red lips? Contouring your nose correctly? Get some help from your favourite beauty YouTubers and dedicate some time to mastering the look once and for all. You can do this.