Waking up and spending each day caged between the same walls doesn’t have to be as depressing as it sounds. After all, when have we ever had this much free time? And as tempting as it might be to just slouch on the couch in your jammies, why not take this opportunity to pamper yourself? Here are some ways to take your beautician skills to the next level and make lockdown life more enjoyable.
Soak in a luxurious bath
Light up those scented candles that often lie unburnt in the living room and run yourself a hot, steamy bath. If you haven’t stocked up on Lush bath bombs, add half a cup of Epsom salt to running water or a few drops of lavender essential oil. These simple ingredients help reduce inflammation, muscle soreness and stress, all you have to do is lie back and relax.
Don’t let your locks down
Give your hair some extra hydration with a homemade hair mask. If you’re stuck indoors, you can make your own with just two basic ingredients. For brittle and damaged hair, mix two cups of milk and two teaspoons of honey. Heat up the milk a bit, so the honey dissolves when you put it in. Apply it evenly, let it work its magic for a few hours, then rinse to see the result.
Face masks, baby!
No, not the surgical ones. Now that you can go about your day bare-faced, you can replace your routine of foundation, mascara and lipstick with moisturizers, scrubs and face masks. And since we’re in the homemade/DIY sphere, mixing a tablespoon of aloe vera gel with a drop of tea tree oil will give you a simple mask that calms irritations and helps treat stubborn spots. When the lockdown is over, your skin will be glowing.
DIY mani and pedi
With all the nail salons closed, we’ve got to improvise. Tending to your nails doesn’t require much, but whatever you do, don’t try cutting your cuticles! If lacerated fingers don’t convince you, just remember that cuticles are there to protect your nails and skin from infection. Push them back with a soft cloth after soaking and drying your hands. Clip, file, buff your nails and get creative with nail polish. Metallic, glitter, neon, go crazy!
Hands up, sanitizers down
Hand sanitizers can be harsh on our skin. And if you think about all the hand washing whilst singing “happy birthday”, it’s no wonder you’ve got dry hands now. Washing and sanitizing are paramount, but so should be moisturizing. For intense hydration, apply a thick layer of hand cream and put on a pair of latex gloves. These will help warm up the skin, allowing the cream to deeply nourish your hands. Leave them on for at least 30 minutes, that’s long enough for you to catch up on your favorite TV show on Netflix.
Releasing your inner beautician for the ultimate lockdown pamper session can be quite therapeutic. With social distancing in place, self-care is more important than ever. And when you finally see your friends again, you’ll not only feel good, but you’ll look good as well!