Right before we went into lock down mode in Wyoming, I was lucky enough to meet and spend some time with Lezly Delgado, of Bonita Beauty. I helped her with some brand photography by “modeling” (haha) and got an education on skin care. Shortly after that day, social distancing went into full force and I could no longer freely go get the routine facial that Lezly inspired me to get. That had me wondering just how many of us felt out of place once our routines were interrupted. So, I tapped into Lezly’s amazing wealth of knowledge in the hopes that we could utilize at-home skincare remedies keep our skin healthy while we wait for things to get back to normal. Here’s what she had to say.
What should we be doing to continue to take care of our skin now that a lot of us are working from home, adjusting to a new lifestyle, and not going in for regular facials?
Because spas and skincare studios are closed, you will not be able to enjoy your regular facial from your favorite Esthetician, but there are some things you can still do at home to maintain a good skincare routine. If you didn’t have a skincare routine this might be a great opportunity to start incorporating one! You should still continue doing your regular morning and night skincare routine. If you don’t have a skincare routine you can still contact a local Esthetician to talk about your skincare concerns and she can ship or deliver some skincare or samples to your front door. Right now, many Estheticians nationwide (including myself) are selling “at-home facial kits” that consist of everything you need to enjoy a mini facial at home.
How do you see the shut-down or “self-quarantine” time impacting our skincare routine?
How has it impacted yours? The way we react to the shut-down or “self-quarantine” will determine how our skin will react as well. When we are stressed, our skin tends to be more sensitive and reactive, which means acne or other skin conditions may worsen. I would suggest masking more often than you normally would, or spend a little more time massaging your face when you cleanse. Those little extra steps can make a huge impact in the way our skin reacts. I am choosing to take advantage of my time at home and have been taking extra care of my skin by implementing more facials into my routine at home. My skin has been loving it so far!
What can we do to avoid negative impacts to our skin health?
As tempting as it is to start binge eating junk food while we are at home, this will lead to poor skin health. Try to eat healthy and stay hydrated while you are at home and your skin will thank you. Don’t let stress take over. We are all experiencing uncertainty but focus on the things you can control for now.
Do you have recommendations for at-home skin care remedies? Which DIY remedies should we avoid?
Try these easy at-home skincare remedies. Make cucumber infused water to stay hydrated all day long. Try steaming your face for 5 minutes before you mask at home. Boil some water and fill your sink with it, then place a towel over your head to capture the steam around your face. This will help loosen any dirt that’s in your pores, specially around your nose area.
Use Chamomile tea bags to help de-puff eye lids, or cut some cucumber rounds for a cooling effect while you are mask.
If you have an inflamed breakout with redness, try icing it a few times a day so the swelling can be reduced. This feels great and fights the urge to touch and scratch that breakout. Touching the breakout can lead to more inflammation, scarring and hyper-pigmentation (dark spot) which could spread more bacteria and could create more breakouts.
Prepare a warm bath by adding two cups of powdered milk and some honey–you could even add flowers to make it fun! Milk contains lactic acid which has exfoliating properties and humectants so it will hydrate your skin and soften it at the same time.
DIY Brown Sugar & Honey Exfoliate Mask
This is one of my favorite at-home skincare remedies. You can make a great face mask and lip scrub by mixing a little bit of brown sugar and honey. Apply it to face and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Gently massage onto your face using light circular movements for about 30 to 60 seconds. End by rinsing it off and applying your favorite moisturizer and lip balm. This mask will help achieve glowing skin for any skin type. The brown sugar helps exfoliate and prevents dry patchy skin. The honey acts as a natural humectant. Do this once or twice a week during quarantine.
What to Avoid
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid stress
- Try not to drink a lot of alcohol. This can dehydrate skin.
- Avoid making masks that have lemon, baking soda or anything too acidic. This can ruin the ph level in your skin and can do more harm in the long run.
Keeping Things Fun While We Are Locked Up
Make taking care of your skin fun and relaxing. A few of my clients have been FaceTiming with friends while they mask and do a mini facial at home. Drink your favorite wine while you enjoy some me time and play that relaxing playlist. Use your favorite essential oils to help you relax and unwind. Once this quarantine is over your skin will thank you for it and your esthetician will be very proud of you!
Get in Touch with Lezly
It’s still unknown in the Wyoming area when things might be opening back up. Give Lezly’s at-home skincare remedies a try, or contact her to discuss other ideas to keep your skin healthy. Although some states are starting to open business up, social distancing still may recommended. If you are local to the Gillette area, send Lezly a message to talk about your skin and for products she can deliver to your door! And as Lezly said earlier, if you are not located around this area, contact your local esthetician to work with them. So many local businesses have adapted to this new norm, so let’s support them and their efforts!
