We are well into week 4 of the nationwide lockdown. By now, most of you have somewhat managed to adjust to living indoors. Yet, all this time spent inside your home can take a toll on your skin and health; even if you can't see it.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to remedy that. Here's how staying indoors during the lockdown is affecting you - and what to do about it!
- 01. Dust and other indoor pollutants
- 02. Air Conditioning / excess heat
- 03. Lack of a routine
- 04. Blue light exposure
- 05. Sun-damage through windows
- 06. Lack of exercise and physical activity
01. Dust and other indoor pollutants
Even though you can't see it with the naked eye, your house is filled with dust and indoor pollutants. This is especially true if you live in a densely populated area and have multiple windows and doors. The dust can settle on your couches and beds, leading to the dullness of skin and breakouts.
Maintain proper hygiene in your house and clean it thoroughly every day. Protect your skin from the pollutants by washing your face twice daily with germ-fighting technology-infused Pond's Pure White Anti Pollution With Activated Charcoal Facewash. Just because you are not stepping out, doesn't mean you are protected from skin damage. So pay attention to your skincare regimen.
02. Air Conditioning / excess heat
There is a reason why stepping out of the house makes you feel refreshed and renewed. Your body needs fresh air to rejuvenate and flush out toxins. Spending too much time indoors means being cooped up in air-conditioned rooms causing our skin to turn dry.
Make use of your free time by taking a walk on your terrace or sitting in your balcony. Make sure you are providing proper moisturising to your skin as well. Slather your skin with a moisturising body lotion such as the Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Fresh Body Lotion every day. Try to spend a few hours daily without the AC; breathing all that recycled air is so not good for you!
03. Lack of a routine
We’re all struggling with following with a proper routine. Our diet and sleep patterns can get disturbed leading to skin and health issues.
Start by making a diet and routine plan for yourself. Once you have a structure in hand, it will get easier to follow through with it. You can also adopt a reward system for every time you complete a task (but nothing more than a cookie!
04. Blue light exposure
There is no escape from gadgets in the modern world. We were already overexposed to our phones and computers for work. Now that most of your time is spent indoors, you might be spending it in front of a TV or laptop screen. The blue light from these devices can cause skin damage, discolouration, inflammation, and weakening of the skin's surface. It can also cause sleeplessness, leading to puffy and tired eyes.
Take some much-needed technology break for a couple of hours a day when you spend it away from a screen. Pick up new hobbies that don't involve screen time, are fun and engaging, and easy enough to not easily give up on. Apply a nourishing eye cream such as the Dermalogica Total Eye Care to give your peepers some much-needed TLC.
05. Sun-damage through windows
The rule of thumb for skincare during the lockdown should be to keep following your usual routine...down to the sunscreen! Yes, standard-issue windows can block only UVB rays while the harmful UVA rays pass straight through. If you have big windows, a well-lit house or have placed your work desk by the window, chances are your skin will suffer sun damage.
Wear sunscreen at home and re-apply it every 3 hours. You can either go heavy-duty like the Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte Gel Sunscreen or a light spray on SPF for daily use.
06. Lack of exercise and physical activity
Staying indoors can lead to a considerable drop in physical activity. Even if you were not big on working out, stepping out and going places at least got you some exercise. Spending all the time staring at the screen can cause low energy levels and sluggishness. This can further affect your mood, as you might feel frustrated and anxious about the current situation.
Don't let the lockdown get your spirits down. Keep moving at home by doing fun activities with your family, working out with bae or just stretching out every single morning. You are not lost for at-home fitness ideas here!
Written by Sumona Bose on Apr 17, 2020
Sumona Bose is a writer, skincare junkie and a self-professed makeup connoisseur. Equipped with a Master's degree in Fashion Management and over 3 years of experience writing in the beauty and fashion space, her passion for learning new things has no bounds. Working closely with dermatologists, beauty excerpts, makeup artists and hairstylists, she brings you the best of all things beauty. From trending skincare ingredients to makeup looks that help you slay, she manages to bring something new (and vital!) to our readers every single time. Her hobbies include home workouts, watching foreign films and binge-watching makeover shows!