Social distancing is hard, but you’re not alone. We’re all in this together and there’s no better time than these unprecedented ones for the beauty community to stick by each other (virtually at least). So if you’ve found yourself in a quarantine rut, I’m dedicating this post to you.

It’s a list of 7 things I’ve caught myself doing during the lockdown that were doing me no good. And I bet won’t do you any good either. So take a look and maybe try these alternatives instead?

 

Throw all grooming habits out the window

Throw all grooming habits out the window

Yes, I’ve seen the memes. We’re all coming out of quarantine with a unibrow. But no, I’m not down for that. I did have my days of looking disheveled, but of late, I’ve been making sure to at least be semi-decent when it comes to grooming. I’ve tweezed a couple of times, styled my hair and also applied a hint of makeup to help me get through a few video calls. Either way, I don’t think it hurts to groom. It will make you feel better about being indoors too!

 

Binge-eat junk food and drink less water

Binge-eat junk food and drink less water

Sitting in your pyjamas all day can have that effect on anyone. And trust me, I know the temptation to break into the bag of chips you bought on your last grocery run before the government announced curfew is real, but don’t! What I’m doing instead is loading up on healthier although less-appealing snacks like carrot sticks, beetroot slices and roasted peanuts, and staying super hydrated. I’ve also rustled up a few healthy meals for the fam. It’s done a world of good to my skin and my gut feels a lot cleaner too!

 

Become obsessive about sanitising

Become obsessive about sanitising

It’s important to wash your hands often and sanitise when you can’t. But don’t go overboard. Just make sure to do it after eating, after coming home from somewhere, after coming in contact with outsiders, and in general, when you feel the need to. Over and above that, and you’ll just become paranoid.

 

Overdose on bad news

Overdose on bad news

Yes, Prince Charles has tested positive for the virus, but there’s no reason to freak out. Take a deep breath and then a break from the internet and news channels; spend time with your family instead. Follow the WHO guidelines and do your part to stay safe, minimise outings and maintain adequate hygiene. That’s all you can possibly do.

 

Skip sunscreen or your skincare routine

Skip sunscreen or your skincare routine

You’re in the house all day, sure. But that’s all the more reason to spend some extra time taking care of your skin. The extra hour I save in the morning (that I’d usually spend travelling to work) I use to indulge in a body scrub, an additional step in my skincare routine (read: essence) and sometimes a sheet mask. Talking of skincare during quarantine, let me just say you need sunscreen even when you’re indoors as the UV rays come in through that glass window by your desk and they sure as hell can damage your skin.

 

Stress over how much weight you’ve put on

Stress over how much weight you’ve put on

For the better part of my quarantine days, I’ve found myself plonked in front of a screen, trying to get work done while my hips steadily widen! I know they say “work out indoors”, but it hasn’t been easy with a one-year-old for company. So instead of cribbing about the extra fat I’m accumulating, I figured I’d just get up and move around more often. Walking around my tiny apartment every hour helps. And I also try to spot jog and do a few crunches every now and then.

 

Get depressed about being indoors

Get depressed about being indoors

Being shut up indoors 24x7 can take its toll on you. But take heart; to brighten up your day, every evening at 5 pm, Be Beautiful will bring the Beau-Tea Party to you via our Insta stories. So bring your cuppa tea and catch all the fun on Instagram. From quizzes to AMAs with beauty experts and cool makeup tutorials to quirky TikTok challenges, you don’t want to miss our tea party! Other than that, you could try a new makeup look or nail art technique, cook a nice meal and lay it out all fancy, video call your bestie and watch a movie together in your own homes... There are lots of fun things to do during quarantine. Whatever you do, don’t sit around and mope!