The new beauty rules

From mask-proof products to nourishing your nails, we’ve got your modern beauty dilemmas covered

Earlier last year, who knew our daily lives were about to change so much? New safety protocols also bring new skin care and make-up challenges. Here’s now to navigate these daily hurdles.

1 How to mask-proof your make-up

If skin is already irritated, avoid foundation. If not, make-up artist Tania Grier favours lightweight bases with nourishing ingredients. Gently remove any excess base with blotting paper to set your make-up, and dust a small amount of translucent powder over the area. While your mask is on, your eyes are the focus. Swap black, brown and navy pencil for shades of amethyst and copper, drawn along the upper lashes and smudged out with a brush.

TRY: Clarins Mattifying Papers, £15; Maybelline Superstay Activewear 30hr Foundation, £10.99; 3INA The Cream Eyeshadow, £14.95.

2 How to keep hands safe and soft

‘Skin here is naturally more prone to dryness because it contains no oil-producing sebaceous glands,’ says Elisabeth Bouhadana, global scientific communications director at L’Oréal Paris. Swap your usual soap or handwash for one that’s pH-balanced and packed with humectants such as glycerin (which pulls moisture into the skin) and emollients, such as aloe vera and shea butter. Then use hand cream. ‘Cold weather accelerates the dehydrating process,’ says Elisabeth. ‘Skin cells don’t have enough time to reproduce the natural oils at the same rate they disappear.

TRY: L’Occitane Savon Bonne Mère Linden & Sweet Orange Soap, £6; L’Oréal Paris Hand Sanitiser Gel, from £2.49; Vichy Ultra-Nourishing Hand Cream, £7.50.

3 How to stop your glasses steaming up

Lenses fog up once your mask is on? Swapping to contact lenses is one option, or you can introduce smart tactics. Abi Nelson, optician at Bayfield and a glasses wearer herself, recommends disposable medical grade masks which tend to fit better (though are less environmentally friendly). She also recommends twisting the straps into a figure of eight shape (rather than simply looping over the ears). This creates small funnels either side of the mask that allow breath to escape past the cheeks than rising upwards.

4 How to nourish lockdown nails

Nails are more susceptible to moisture loss during cold weather, and frequent washing and sanitising can soften the keratin protein that nails are made of, leading to splitting and breakage. Give them a break from polish and focus on cuticles. ‘Cuticle care is beneficial in the same way that conditioner is vital for strong hair,’ explains Carla Opoku, founder of Cienna Rose, who advises using rich balms overnight and lighter oils during the day. A twice-weekly application of a treatment-style base coat can add a healthy-looking sheen.

TRY: Nails Inc Back to Life Recovery Treatment and Base, £15; Cienna Rose Overnight Success Revival Mask, £10; CND Vinylux SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Care Pen, £11.95.

5 How to look good on Zoom

Make-up artist Caroline Barnes advises ‘always sit looking into the light. Some people can sit next to a window or lamp and look gorgeous, but I find it highlights every pore and skylights cast shadows that no make-up can erase. Prop your laptop on books as looking down can give you jowls.’ As for make-up, ‘brighten under your eyes and around your nose and mouth with concealer. These areas get more shadowy as we get older, especially as the light drops during the day. The cold light of a screen is draining so a dash of tan can make a difference, with soft pink blusher on the apples of the cheeks.’

TRY: Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush, £6.99; Catrice One Drop Coverage Weightless Concealer, £4.17.