Let your skin glow while WFH top tips for achieving Zoom-tastic skin

By now the novelty of working from home has probably worn off and the thought of another day in your pyjamas with week-old hair and a makeup-free face is much less appealing. Especially when you consider your 9-5 now consists of numerous video calls as you connect with colleagues, clients, friends and family from all over. What’s more, your skin might start to feel the effects from less time outside, changes to your diet and a lack of routine. However, all is not lost as Dr Toni Phillips, group clinical director at DestinationSkin and make-up artist, Selen Hurer, offer their quick and easy steps to give your skin the boost it needs.

DestinationSkin’s Dr Toni Phillips top tips for glowing skin are…

LET YOUR SKIN BREATHE

Now is the perfect time to practice a consistent skincare routine, just two simple steps in the morning and evening will enhance your skin and give it a healthy glow.

Step 1: Cleansing – this is arguably the most important step as it minimises congested skin and clogged pores, which can lead to inflammation, large pores, blackheads and a dull and uneven complexion.

Did you know choosing the correct cleanser can improve your skin’s glow too? The right cleanser will remove excess oil if present, gently exfoliate dead skin cells and debris, whilst leaving the skin barrier intact and will not interfere with the water levels. The result? Leaving you with optimally clean, hydrated and glowing skin.

Step 2: Hydration – every skin type will benefit from hydration, whether you prefer a mega-watt shiny glow or more of a dewy matt glow. My favourite product is the SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Overnight Renew, which exfoliates and refreshes the skin while you sleep, so that you awake with a smooth, even toned, glowing skin.

AVOID UVA/ UVB EXPOSURE

Make sure you get outside, take a stroll at lunchtime, sit in your garden or set up for the day by an open window. The sun is the best source of Vitamin D which, in the right levels, can help to fight dry skin and premature ageing. But remember, the sun is also one of the biggest causes of pigmentation, brown spots or patches on the skin – always apply SPF30+ or SPF50 to ensure these blemishes don’t set you back on your quest for flawless skin! To avoid long-term damage, this should be done even if you only leave the house for an hour or so to do your essential shopping or a bit of exercise.

While working outside is great for fighting cabin fever, make sure you adjust the brightness on your screens to prevent frowning as this can lead to fine lines. Position your screen away from direct light and make sure you take plenty of breaks. This will also help to prevent wrinkles around the eyes from straining, especially if you work with spreadsheets or a lot of text.

ENJOY A DIGI DETOX

It’s safe to say that we are more addicted to our phones than ever, with daily routines involving obsessively scrolling the news for updates, uploading our favourite isolation memes to Instagram and hooking up with our faves on House Party each night. But, our favourite digi devices can have a negative impact on our skin.

Blue light is emitted from smartphones, computers and TV screens and overexposure to this can cause premature wrinkles and pigmentation. You can help reduce this by remembering to use a moisturiser with SPF and also removing the blue light from screens.

We’re also likely to be harbouring bacteria on our phones, so remember to clean these regularly to prevent them building up on your skin, as this can cause spots and blocked pores.

DRINK YOUR WAY TO GORGEOUS SKIN

We all know that water is super important when it comes to helping us feel healthy. Did you know that water also improves skin elasticity, leading to a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines, as well as helping us fight and flush out toxins?

Mix up your eight glasses a day by adding fresh fruit, herbs or vegetables for an extra boost. Mint is a great addition as it’s abundant in antioxidants, which are essential for hydrating the skin leaving it soft and supple, while strawberries are rich in Vitamin C, which helps to protect against UV damage.

Selen Hurer, makeup artist gives us the lowdown on achieving that natural, glowing look:

Just a bit of makeup can go a long way to give you a little boost and make your skin feel radiant. The natural look is ideal if you’re working from home and spending more time video calling colleagues and clients than ever before!

For effective makeup application, I use a twin massage ball on my face and neck, which essentially acts a mini facial that you can do yourself at home. It helps enhance the skin in a number of ways by improving circulation, skin tone and helps to reduce dark circles and fine lines.

What’s more, ensure your skin is hydrated with moisturiser or serum to help reduce dry patches on the skin and stop makeup clogging and clumping, especially around the nose and eyes.

Here are my top tips to get that natural, glowing look, with minimal effort:

1. Simply curling eyelashes and adding a bit of mascara can help open the eyes
2. Just a touch of concealer under the eyes can brighten the face and cover any dark circles, if this isn’t enough try mixing your concealer with a colour corrector to counteract blue or grey tones in the skin
3. Tinted moisturiser with SPF gives you subtle coverage and protection from the sun and UV light on screens
4. An illuminating primer can be applied all over to smooth fine lines, fill in pores and reduce pigmentation
5. A bit of highlighter can give you that dewy look – ensure you apply it as the sun would naturally hit your face: your cheekbones, your brow bones, the top of your cupid’s bow and the bridge of your nose

For more top tips on how to care for your skin visit www.destinationskin.com or tune in for regular updates at www.instagram.com/DestinationSkin