Beauty at Home: 5 Skincare Tips When Working Behind a Computer

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Some people may think that staying indoors means being safe from direct sunlight. Or you could be one of those who have a bottle of sunscreen sitting somewhere and gathering dust. Think of the sunlight that comes in through your window. Think of the light emitting from your computer screen. These have harmful effects on the skin, too.

This may come as a surprise—or raise questions—but you may have to use sunscreen indoors. Yes, you need sun protection even when you’re not going out. But before applying sunscreen, you need to add a few more steps to your routine. These steps ensure that you’re treating blemishes as well as preventing them. So, incorporating a full routine may still be necessary while you’re working behind a computer.

1. Do the basics – and do them religiously

Washing your face removes dirt from the skin, preventing clogged pores that may result in acne. Doing this twice a day is considered healthy, as too much washing can lead to dry skin and irritation since it can strip your skin of its natural oils.

Moisturizing avoids dry skin and improves skin elasticity, resulting in more youthful skin. The rule of thumb is to choose one that matches your skin type. For example, if you have oily skin, a water-based product will keep you from looking greasy throughout the day. For dry skin, heavier creams will do the job well and hydrate the skin deeply. Nowadays, there are moisturizers available for every skin type.

Washing and moisturizing the skin are the basics of skincare, and they’re the secret of how to have clear skin. You can elevate these steps as well. Double cleansing, for example, adds a cleansing balm or oil before washing your face with a cleanser. These products dissolve makeup and other kinds of stubborn dirt on the face.

2. Use eye cream

People tend to squint, so their eyes can adjust to the screen. Sometimes, the things on the screen are too small to see. Other times, the brightness of the screen suddenly fluctuates. Constant squinting adds stress and pressure on the eye area, causing the development of lines and wrinkles.

The skin under the eyes is susceptible to lines and wrinkles. An effective way to prevent signs of aging from showing is by using eye cream, eye gel, or eye pads. They moisturize the under-eyes while providing treatment. They also reduce puffiness in the morning to make you look fresher.

3. Apply treatments

Treatments come in different consistencies. They can be in serums, ampoules, creams, or face masks. The best facial serums contain vitamins, minerals, and other active ingredients with specific purposes, such as nourishing, brightening, or protection.

You could also do spot treatments for acne. They come in the form of muds, liquids, creams, or patches and often contain salicylic acid, niacinamide, or tea tree oil. These ingredients are great for drying out acne and speeding up their healing process. Pimple patches are also available to add a protective layer or covering the pimple.

Whether you’re using serums, ampoules, creams, or face masks, the important part is to use them properly. Take note that for better results, thicker consistencies should go last in a skincare routine. Also, some active ingredients, such as vitamin C and retinol, don’t work well with sunlight, so it’s best to use them at night.

4. Protect your skin with sunscreen

Now that staying home has become the norm, people tend to become complacent with their sunscreen application. However, it’s important to remember that just because you’re indoors doesn’t mean you’re safe from the UV rays.

Even if you’re inside your room all day, the sun still comes in from the window. Sometimes, it could hit your face. And even though it doesn’t, you should still protect your face. Just because sun exposure may not be severe doesn’t mean that it can’t do considerable damage to your skin.

On top of this, blue light has been found to have adverse effects on the skin as well. With more people staying in front of the computer for long hours a day, these effects could become noticeable up close. According to an expert, working in front of the computer the entire day is equivalent to 20 minutes of sun exposure at noon.

You need to add that extra layer of protection even when you’re staying indoors. It will allow you to work from home in peace, knowing that your skin is not incurring damage. This way, your daily skincare routine will not go to waste, and you can sit there and be pretty.

5. Catch enough Z’s

The body has its natural clock called the circadian rhythm. It uses light and darkness to feel awake and induce sleep. While all sources of light interfere with the cycle, blue light has a specific contribution. Blue light affects the circadian rhythm by intercepting the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin.

Prolonged exposure to computer screens, smartphones, or the TV may lead to a pushed-back sleeping schedule or insomnia. Because of this, frequent scrolling on social media while you’re in bed may rob you of your beloved beauty sleep.

Lack of sleep may lead to the interruption of the body’s healing process, including the skin. Aside from this, not getting enough sleep causes dark under-eye circles and acne. In addition, the next day could be gruelling because you may feel exhausted, and it will show on your skin.

Avoid blue-light-emitting screens two to three hours before bedtime so that you can welcome sleepiness into your evening. If you think this is too much, you could start with avoiding using gadgets when you hit the sack. Instead, consider reading a book, daydreaming, or meditating.

Be Consistent

Even though you spend the day at home, you shouldn’t skip the necessary steps. The challenge with having a skincare routine is discipline. You need to be consistent to get the best results because healthy skin does not come overnight. It also matters to choose the right products for your skin type. Having the right products guarantees that everything you apply to your skin contributes to giving you the best-looking skin.