Did anyone else enter isolation with hope that glowing skin would at least be the silver lining to all this?
Now that wearing makeup has become an abstract concept and we're no longer exposing our skin to the outside elements, we hoped we'd be emerging post-Covid-19 with our best skin ever.
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So what happened?
Instead of blemish-free skin, it's gone the other way. We're breaking out more than ever before and our skin swings between oily and dry on a daily basis. But why?
For those that can relate, Tyla has tapped the experts for the lowdown on isolation skin, exactly why it's so terrible RN, and what we can do to fix it.
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Sara Waterman, Skincare Expert and Senior Aesthetician an at Young LDN, puts our bad isolation skin down to a number of different elements, from changes in diet, to contact with cushions and pillows, and the reason why not wearing makeup could actually be messing up our skincare.
Changes in our diet
Firstly, Sara says that changes in diet - such as snacking on more sugary foods or drinking more booze than usual - could be a major factor as to why we're getting breakouts.
"Sugar is an inflammatory food which can cause inflammation within the body in turn affecting the skin and aggravating conditions such as acne and eczema," Sara tells Tyla. "It's important to try and maintain a level of normality and limit yourself to sugary snacks and alcohol."
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Bacteria from our pillows
Secondly (and here's one we hadn't considered), Sara says that our increased contact with pillows could be a key reason why we're getting spots.
"When working from home, we spend more time lounging around at home in bed or on the sofa, which means our face has more contact on cushions and pillows," the aesthetician explains. "Oil from your hair, hands, and face can build up over time on the surface of pillowcases, and while this oil keeps your skin healthy and moisturised in normal amounts, rubbing in old oil can clog the pores."
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To combat this, Sara suggests making a habit of washing your linen more than usual "as bacteria lingering on fabrics along with friction can lead to breakouts".
Slacking on skincare
Next, you'd think that giving your skin a break from makeup would do it a world of good. But how many of us can say in isolation we're committing to the same skincare routines we did back when we had to scrub our makeup off at the end of the day? Errr...
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"We may not be wearing makeup as often, but this does not mean we should forgo our skin care routine," says Sara. "Natural cellular build up will still be taking place, and this must be exfoliated to prevent clogged pores and breakouts."
The best advice? Wash, scrub and cleanse just as you would do if you'd spent the day wearing a full face of slap.
Stress and sleep
The skin expert also suggests that stress and changes to our sleeping patterns could be causing our skin to worsen. "Stress concerns over the current situation and changes to sleeping patterns may also cause hormonal imbalances within the body, which can in turn lead to breakouts," she says.
"Try to keep a routine and get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a to maintain hormonal balance."
Sweat
Finally, your daily Insta Live workout could be playing with your skin, provided you aren't following the right post-workout procedures.
Just because your class isn't happening at a gym, doesn't mean you should wait to shower (or put it off altogether), as sitting sweat can lead to clogged pores.
"Sweat can lead to clogged pores, so ensure you take the time to shower afterwards and cleanse your skin. You should also disinfect your mat or the floor after your workout to prevent a build up of bacteria," Sara advises.
Featured Image Credit: PixabayTopics: Hair and Beauty, Real, health news, Skin