Lockdown beauty boosters you’ll love
We’re back in the world of DIY beauty, but there are plenty of ways to survive lockdown – from de-stressing at-home facials to buying the latest beauty booster.
Looking good and taking care of your skin helps you to feel better too, so here’s how to up your beauty regime even if you’re still wearing loungewear.
Super skincare
A good cleansing routine twice a day can be enough to transform skin. A DIY facial at least once or twice a week will also help.
Cleanse the skin then exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.
Try mixing a little baking soda with your cleanser to transform it into a mild exfoliant.
DIY: For a homemade face mask, mash a quarter of an avocado in a bowl and stir in 1tbsp each of coconut oil and honey. Apply to clean, dry skin and relax for 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water, then moisturise. Coconut oil is hydrating and antiinflammatory, while honey is antibacterial, moisturising and rich in antioxidants.
BEST BUYS:
Trinny London Miracle Blur Lip and Line Filler, £26 (trinnylondon.com) is infused with collagen and elastin, as well as antioxidants vitamin C and E, for a plumping, firming and nourishing effect.
No7 Radiance+ Skincare features glow-boosting products formulated with vitamin C to combat dull skin.
No7 Radiance+ 15 per cent Vitamin C Serum, £20 (boots.com) not only illuminates the skin, but also provides antioxidant protection, evens skin tone and helps boost collagen formation.
Lockdown locks
Wash hair every couple of days and let it air-dry to give it a break from heat and wear and tear. Disguise roots with a camouflage product matched to your natural colour, available from most supermarkets.
The trick to easy application is to tie hair back tightly and powder or spray directly around the hairline. Then loosen hair and section off into quarters, applying retoucher directly on to roots.
Coconut oil will add shine and softness to hair, while repairing breakage and split ends. Apply before you wash your hair and leave for at least 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
Olaplex Hair Repair Trial Kit, £22 (lookfantastic.com) is suitable for all hair types and is ideal for weekly use to maintain strong, healthy-looking hair.
Josh Wood Colour
Root Smudger, £15 ( joshwoodcolour.com) has an innovative sponge applicator that mimics in-salon colouring techniques and lasts for three shampoos.
Working long hours, endless screen time and not getting enough sleep can leave the eyes looking tired and puffy.
Place slices of chilled cucumber over closed eyes and take 20 minutes out while you de-puff. Alternatively beat an egg white until stiff and apply around your eyes with a brush.
Leave for 20 minutes and rinse with cold water to reveal a brighter, smoother under-eye area.
Create your own look of lash extensions with Kiss Falscara starter kit, £24.99 (superdrug.com), a clever kit that attaches mini-clumps of falsies under your natural lash line.
Eylure Pro Brow Dybrow Dye Kit, £7.50 ( feelunique.com) is an at-home kit that is easy to use and very affordable. Available in a range of shades.
L’Oreal Paris Eyebrow Artist Plump & Set, £7.99 (boots.com) is available in six shades. The gel adds volume naturally to thinning, sparse brows, filling in gaps and lasts all day.
Choose one shade lighter than your natural brows for best results.
If you’re stuck with the remnants of a gel manicure, don’t pick it off as you’ll damage the nail enamel.
Instead use a file to gently buff away the shine, then apply an acetonesoaked cotton pad to each nail, wrap in foil and leave for 10 to 15 minutes.
Repeat until nails are gel-free. Push back cuticles, exfoliate hands with a face scrub and massage in some hand cream for super-soft skin.