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Lockdown Skin Issues
Many customers have reported lockdown skin issues to us. They have noticed their skin’s condition getting worse since the South African COVID-19 lockdown began on the 25th of March 2020.
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This might seem strange, because you would expect your skin to get some extra restorative TLC at home. However, based on the volume of reports we’ve received, there are clearly more factors to consider …
How routine changes cause lockdown skin issues
Routines are highly evolved systems that we essentially optimise around one thing: balance. The changes we are hearing about show how much of a role external and behavioural factors play in the health of our skin. This is true even if we continue with our normal topical products. The good news is that we can reprogram ourselves and our routines fairly quickly. First, though, we need to figure out what isn’t working in our new situation.
Stress and lockdown skin issues
General uncertainty, financial strain and missing physical contact with loved ones can all cause stress and anxiety. In turn, this can also affect the skin. For example, stress can trigger acne breakouts and aggravate conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. To lower your stress levels, try breathing exercises, yoga, meditation or whatever else helps you. Most often we simply learn to live with stress. Still, it’s good to recognise when we are feeling it and to know the steps for managing it.
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Argan Tissue Oil + Rooibos & Coffee Scrub Body Kit for Stretch Marks & Cellulite (3 Products)
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✔️ ☕ Exfoliates & boosts circulation with coffee & rooibos
✔️ 🌹 Rosehip oil helps soften the look of stretch marks and scars
✔️ 💧 Deeply hydrates & softens with Moroccan argan oil
✔️ 🌿 Improves skin texture, tone & elasticity
✔️ ✅ Natural, non-greasy & safe for all skin types
✔️ 🧴 Perfect for pregnancy, weight loss & daily body care
Moroccan Argan, Vitamin E & Rosehip Organic Tissue Oil for Stretch Marks, Scars & Dry Skin 200ml
Diet
The kitchen and fridge are very accessible. Excessive amounts of sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol can all play a role in the condition of our skin. If you are prone to acne, do not eat excessive amounts of dairy products. On the other hand, brightly coloured foods contain more antioxidants that protect the body. Finally, always keep yourself well hydrated.
Sleep
We’ve heard of many people struggling to sleep during the lockdown. Much of this is likely linked to stress. Other factors might be a lack of exercise or more alcohol (for those who were prepared!). Another less-considered factor is the over-use of devices that emit a steady amount of blue light. Studies show that blue light can keep us awake. It can also penetrate deep into the skin and damage collagen within the dermis. So, switch your device to a more yellow light setting. Most importantly, avoid screens right before bed, or simply spend less time on them where possible.
Sleep and skin is an extensive topic. In short, though, poor sleep can negatively affect your skin, because sleep is a biologically regenerative process.
Cleansing
Gentle cleansing is vitally important. It’s easy to get lazy and skip your cleanser, especially in the evening. Sometimes just feeling the day’s ‘build-up’ on your skin is the motivation you need to cleanse at night.
Two skin type tips:
- For dry skin, cleanse morning and night with a gentle face wash . Then use a heavy oil at night (this can be a tissue oil, coconut oil or shea butter) to freshen the skin by morning.
- For oily or combination skin, we recommend cleansing twice a day with a more problem-centric treatment, like The melanin Face Kit.
Lockdown skin issues from longer hot showers or baths
Perhaps it feels more comforting, the weather is getting cooler, or you simply have more time. Either way, long showers or baths can cause unnecessary skin dryness. Over time, this can lead to an impaired skin barrier. If the skin on your face or body feels dry or irritated, keep your baths or showers shorter. Also, make them less hot, because hot water can remove healthy natural fats from the skin. Then use a good body butter or tissue oil directly afterward to help lock in moisture. The American Academy of Dermatology gives similar advice for dry skin.
Using products you otherwise wouldn’t use
Last-minute panic buying or a lack of better choices has led some customers to use skincare products they would never normally use. This goes back to our first point: we carefully optimise our routines to find what works best for us. Your skin can change quickly when you introduce new products, and not always for the better.
Vitamin D & supplementation
If you are confined to a small, stuffy space during lockdown, take 15 minutes a day to stand outside and get some fresh air. Also, if you don’t have an air humidifier, it’s a good idea to get one to add moisture to the air in your home.
The lockdown period is also an opportunity to rest and build up your immune system. I would recommend taking a good multivitamin every day and a probiotic for gut health. In addition, take extra Vitamin C if your immune system is not so robust. Depending on where you live (for example, with no outdoor area), you may not get much sun exposure at present. It is therefore advisable to take at least 600IU of Vitamin D daily, as this also boosts your immune system.
Hand skin issues from lockdown over-washing
Repeated hand washing, especially with more alkaline soaps, can adversely affect the barrier function of the skin. To avoid full-blown irritant contact dermatitis, we recommend using a good quality moisturiser regularly.
For everyone, these are totally unprecedented times. We can’t freely move around and go about our normal day-to-day lives, and that changes everything. So, it’s natural to expect some lockdown skin issues along the way.
Stay Home, Stay Safe.
Shop the routine
★ Bestseller
Argan Tissue Oil + Rooibos & Coffee Scrub Body Kit for Stretch Marks & Cellulite (3 Products)
✨ Why your curves will love you:
✔️ ☕ Exfoliates & boosts circulation with coffee & rooibos
✔️ 🌹 Rosehip oil helps soften the look of stretch marks and scars
✔️ 💧 Deeply hydrates & softens with Moroccan argan oil
✔️ 🌿 Improves skin texture, tone & elasticity
✔️ ✅ Natural, non-greasy & safe for all skin types
✔️ 🧴 Perfect for pregnancy, weight loss & daily body care
Moroccan Argan, Vitamin E & Rosehip Organic Tissue Oil for Stretch Marks, Scars & Dry Skin 200ml
Deep Moisturizing Rooibos Infused African Shea Body Butter 250ml
Urea & Lavender Deep Moisture Butter for Dry, Itchy-Feeling & Eczema-Prone Skin 250ml
✨ Key Benefits:
✔️ 💧 Deeply moisturizes dry, flaky & irritated skin
✔️ 🌿 Moisturises dry, rough and eczema-prone skin
✔️ 💜 Soothes with natural lavender oil
✔️ 🔬 Urea helps soften rough, dry skin
✔️ 🚫 No perfume, no colorants, no preservatives
✔️ 👶 Gentle formula (patch test first; ask a pharmacist before using on babies) — even sensitive skin
