Wondering why your usual skincare routine has stopped working? From tired skin to stressed-looking faces, lockdown lifestyle changes have created a new set of skin issues. Here are the two lockdown ageing tribes, and how each is affecting your skin.
Stress face
From financial anxiety to worrying about the kids’ schooling, stress levels have risen recently, causing inflammation in our skin. Pharmacist Shabir Daya explains: “Just within the top layers of our skin lie cells that produce cortisol in response to environmental factors and internal aggressions. Whether the stress is physical or emotive, these cells produce cortisol, leading to a host of concerns from inflammation, red rashes, reactive skin and acne.”
What should you do about it? Start with your diet, suggests Henrietta Norton from Wild Nutrition. “Eat foods that keep inflammation to a minimum including brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, which have a high antioxidant content, as well as essential fats from oily fish, nuts and seeds to prevent a rise in blood sugar levels.”
To curb anxiety try an Ashwagandha supplement, which has been shown to have a calming effect.
Tired face
Lack of sleep is currently one of the biggest complaints. Daya says: “Sleep is absolutely crucial for the way our skin looks and feels, because a lack of sleep affects almost every process from repair through to affecting even the lipids (moisture) within skin.
“Tired skin is hard to cover up because often you end up with dark circles, puffy eyes and a general lacklustre look.”
For eyes, use a caffeine-based eye serum to target both puffiness and dark circles by constricting the blood vessels. Or try a hot and cold facial. “Carefully place your face over a bowl of hot water to open up your pores. Then apply a homemade mask. For dry skin mix two tablespoons of plain yogurt, 1/4 avocado, 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply with a clean make-up brush. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and rinse with cold water. Next, wrap a thin muslin cloth around an ice cube (made with green tea to calm inflammation) and gently roll all over the face to tighten and close the pores. Finish with an antioxidant-packed serum.”
The Daily Telegraph
