INTRODUCTION

Most of the working women find it difficult to keep up their skincare game with the busy schedule, long working hours, pollution, and the busy lifestyle. Maintaining a daily skincare routine might sound like a luxury because let’s be real, following a 12-step skincare regime for crystal clear glass skin daily is next to impossible for most working women. Using D-I-Y messy home remedies can be time-consuming and inconvenient as well. However, maintaining a regular skincare routine is an essential part of self-care which not only helps in having compliment-worthy healthy and radiant skin but also works wonders in alleviating stress.

WHY IS SKINCARE IMPORTANT?

For most working women time management becomes critical and ultimately, we end up neglecting our skin. Pollution, external factors along with the high level of stress, unhealthy lifestyle, lack of exercise, exposure to blue light from the screen and working in the office or at home for a 9-6 job can make the skin dull, pigmented, dehydrated, and accelerate ageing. As genetics tend to be a determining factor of the skin texture that we have, some of us need more than just a splash of water to take care of our skin. More than the appearance, a well-thought-out skincare routine is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Tension and stress are common for working women and these two factors are known for causing skin problems. No matter, how hectic your job profile is, maintaining a few simple things can help the largest organ of your body (read skin) to be healthy and radiant.

This quick daily skincare routine with curated products along with tips to maintain flawless skin can guide your way to healthy skincare habits.

SKINCARE ROUTINE IN THE MORNING

A regular skincare schedule is important for keeping dark circles, acne, and blemishes at bay and healing your skin from within. A basic C-T-M in the morning along with some active-based serums and sunscreen is the best way to start the day.

CLEANSING

Maintaining an a.m and p.m skincare routine should start with splashing normal water on your face after waking up in the morning. It not only helps in refreshing the skin but helps in gently getting rid of the impurities and dirt. To remove the dead skin cells and gently exfoliate, start your morning routine with a gentle cleanser depending on your skin type. The Loccitane Reine Blanche Intense Illuminating Foam can be effective for gently cleansing your face and neck and exfoliating the skin at the same time for smooth, supple, and firm skin. Choose a cleanser based on your skin issues and it is best to avoid products with parabens, silicone, DEA, MEA, and TEA. Try to introduce AHA and BHA gradually for scaling up your skincare game especially if you are facing issues of clogged pores and dull skin.

TONING

Toning should be a part of your morning ritual for many reasons. Using the right toner with appropriate properties help in balancing the pH level of your skin and acts as the first step of much-needed hydration. Opt for ingredients like tea-tree extracts, salicylic acid, and witch hazel in toners for oily skin or for dry skin stick to toners with glycerin or hyaluronic acid for improved hydration. You can also use a face mist instead of a toner as it can be multipurpose and convenient to use. You can opt for Loccitane Shea Butter Face Comforting Mist which helps in moisturizing and soothing the skin especially if you have dehydrated skin.

MOISTURIZING

After application of the toner depending on your skin concerns, you can select a serum with ingredients like Vit-C, Hyaluronic acid, Vit B-5, or Niacinamide. Opt for Lancome Absolue The Revitalizing Oleo-Serum or Tatcha – The Serum Stick for improving your skin barrier. If your skin often feels itchy and you have uneven skin tone and fine lines, chances are high that you have dehydrated skin. Using a gel-based moisturizer like Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator can be the effective solution for restoring your skin’s hydration. Working women often need more than just a moisturizer that can replace the foundation or the quintessential base make-up. Nars 2362 Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer can be your go-to solution for creating the everyday office look.

SUNSCREEN

Sunscreen is the most important thing that working women need to include in their skincare regime as it helps in reducing the effect of UVA/UVB rays and helps in protecting the skin. Choose a higher SPF-based sunscreen whether you are going to the office or working from home.

SKINCARE ROUTINE DURING THE DAY

Most beauty experts emphasize maintaining an a.m.-p.m. skincare regime while for working women it is crucial to maintain a few things throughout the day. Working long hours takes a toll on the skin of the working women leaving the skin dull, dehydrated, and increasing the risk of blemishes, and uneven skin tone. While cleansing the face too much can lead to stripping of its natural oils causing barrier damage. If you have oily skin, using wipes or oil control tissues can help in reducing the oil and chances of breakouts. You can use Chanel Paper Matifiant De Chanel Oil Control Blotting Tissue Sheets for absorbing excess oil and mattifying the skin instantly before a meeting or conference. While working in the office keep your skin hydrated by using a mist. Keep your lips supple by applying a moisturizing lip balm like Loccitane Shea Butter Lip Balm Stick. Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day despite the busy schedule is crucial. Sipping pian water once in a while and grabbing seasonal fruit for a snack can do wonders for your skin.

SKINCARE ROUTINE DURING BEDTIME

After a hectic and long day giving yourself 15 minutes can help in rejuvenating your skin. Before going to bed, removing the make-up is essential followed by an advanced C-T-M. If you have the tendency to break out often try oil pulling or a cleansing balm and double-cleansing before applying any night cream. A quick cleansing using a water-based cleanser followed by the oil cleanse preps your skin for the next steps. Follow the below ritual for relaxing your skin and improving your sleep quality.

• Wash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle facewash and tap dry your skin without rubbing.
• Use a detoxing mask thrice a week.
• Use the same toner from your morning routine.
• For the p.m. routine opt for hyaluronic acid serum followed by a Retinol based serum. For best result choose Lancome Absolue The Revatalizing Oleo-Serum or Estee Lauder Perfectionist [Cp+R] Wrinkle Lifting / Firming for reversing the ageing process and enhancing the elasticity of the skin. Do not forget to apply the serum to your neck. For excessively dehydrated skin use a sheet mask for intense hydration.
• Before going to bed using a rich night cream can help you to wake up with soft and clear skin. You can use Tatcha The Water Cream for non-greasy and moisturized skin or for dry skin use Sabon Dead Sea Deep Moisturizing Cream.
• The skin around your eyes tends to be super sensitive and requires overnight care due to excessive screen-time. Apply an undereye gel before going to bed and twice a week apply under-eye masks specialized for the eye area. Loccitane Immortelle Reset Overnight Eye Serum 0.5 and Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum are some of the effective options for overnight repairing of the undereye for reducing dark circles and puffiness.
• Working women approaching their thirties and in their early thirties need to introduce anti-ageing products to their routine and Estee Lauder Optimizer Intensive Boosting Lotion Anti Wrinkle + Lifting can help in managing the ageing skin by promoting collagen building.
• Apply a lip balm before heading to bed for protecting yourself avoiding chapped and dry lips in the morning.

OTHER THINGS RESPONSIBLE FOR A HEALTHY SKIN?

Apart from choosing the right products, healthy skin depends heavily on your lifestyle, stress level, diet, and underlying chronic diseases. Working women often neglect underlying health issues like PCOS leading to hormonal imbalance, insulin intolerance and skin problems which are difficult to deal with. Hormonal balance is crucial for fostering healthy and glowing skin. Despite the hectic schedule 20 minutes of physical activity daily, and breathing exercises can help in managing stress along with improving the overall health of the skin.

For working women cutting back the caffeine and junk, snacks can be difficult, however, small changes in the food habit can do wonders for the skin. Reduce the amount of coffee and sugared drinks by replacing them with green tea, chamomile tea, and turmeric lattes. Rather than eating processed food choose a hearty salad and lean proteins. Replace the sugary doughnuts with a sweet apple, or citrus fruit. Try to avoid meals at late night and the most important of them all, keep yourself hydrated. Drinking enough water is the key to healthy skin and preventing dehydration. Maintaining healthy skin also requires reducing alcohol consumption and smoking as these can adversely impact the gut leading to skin problems. Increasing the intake of healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, whole grains are as important as ensuring uninterrupted and adequate sleep. Six to seven hours of sleep although sounds like an impossible aim for working women, is important for combatting sagging and a healthier appearance. Reducing stress and ensuring daily relaxation is vital for healthy skin as well.

SKINCARE TIPS AND TRICKS DURING LOCKDOWN (TABLE)

During the lockdown working from home provided many perks along with challenges for managing time due to increased workload. For working women keeping the mind right during lockdown is crucial and the following tricks and tips can be useful in adjusting to the new normal.

Here are five tips for keeping your skin happy throughout the day!

CONCLUSION

The struggles of a working woman are as real as they can get but don’t compromise with your skincare game. Maintaining healthy skin is crucial for your overall well-being and neglecting your skin would only make your life harder. Along with maintaining a skincare regime suited to your time and skincare needs do not forget the basics of healthy skin. Hydrating yourself and ensuring a good night’s sleep is crucial along with washing down the extra caffeine with some green juices.