Unfortunately in this difficult time in history, many of our favorite spas, salons, hairdressers, and beauticians remain closed.
While at-home treatments will never replace the service, companionship, and gossip we get from our pampering parlors, there are several ways to maintain some level of beauty standards without access to our pedicures, root touch-ups, and massages.
Until we can safely enjoy our favorite beauty services again, follow this expert advice from Dr. Maya Kato to make the best of a bad situation and look as good as you can.
Dial-in Your Skincare Routine
Staying at home brings its advantages – no rushing to get out the door in the morning. With some extra time on your hands, you can refine your morning and evening routines to perfection and enhance your self-care approach.
Morning and evening facial care differ, according to the needs of your skin. In the morning, you need to clean oils secreted during sleep, rejuvenate your eyes, moisturize the skin, and protect it for the day ahead with a gentle sun-protection lotion, generally SPF 30. A morning routine like this will shake any morning cobwebs, lock in moisture for the day, and serve as an anti-aging and protective measure against sun damage.
Evening skincare involves removing everything from the skin, including products, grit, grime, and dust gathered throughout the day. Do this with a pampering cleanser, then possibly use some acne prevention or antioxidant serum to help replenish and restore your skin after your day.
Try Face Masks
In lieu of salon facials, face masks at home are a great alternative. Decide which purpose you want the mask to serve, and purchase accordingly. Some masks offer delicate chemical peels which are very effective at removing dead skin cells, while others are deeply moisturizing.
Maintain Facial Hair
Brow maintenance can be done during this time to prevent any creeping mono-brows. Dr. Kato suggests first brushing the brows up, then using a magnifying mirror pluck outliers below the brow line and above the nose.
Don’t over-pluck. Just maintain and don’t try to shape your brows – just keep them in check until you can get your professional to do it for you once again.
You can also temporarily handle peachy fuzz on the cheeks, chin, and upper lip with topical hair-removal creams and micro razors. While these won’t replace a Dermaplane session, you can work to maintain some level of pride in your appearance until the salon doors are open once again.
Pamper Your Nails
It is essential to use a not-too-coarse file, and file slowly file your nails from the outside towards the center.
To fix cuticles, soak your fingers in warm water for five minutes, then using a q-tip, gently push the cuticles down and back.
Dedicate Time to Your Teeth
With time on your hands, we can follow the dentists’ advice and floss daily. Consider over-the-counter whitening products and also putting a little bit of toothpaste on your floss to help remove any stains between the teeth.
For people who wear retainers, consider wearing them around the house, as this way, they will realign your teeth around the clock.
Hair Care
This is also an excellent chance to try out different things with your hair. One common mistake we see is people cleaning their hair far too often. Instead, try increasing the time between washes and applying a dry-moisturizer two to three times a week.
You will be amazed at how healthy and vibrant your hair feels, and how much shorter your showers can be!
Next Steps
No doubt about it, we’re facing challenging times. But you can make an effort to keep looking and feeling your best with this advice from Dr. Maya Kato of Aesthetic Art Facial Rejuvenation. If you have any questions on how to improve your stay-at-home beauty routine, reach out to us at 1-(760)-610-5558 or contact us online for your consultation.