By Sophia Phan
They say in bad times women reach for lipstick as a way to brighten their day, mood and situation. The lipstick effect has often been used as a barometer of the current economic climate, but we’ve never experienced a global event like the current pandemic.
As most of the world remains in lockdown, it’s no surprise that it’s not lipstick that women are reaching for (bar the occasional Zoom call), but rather items that make an indefinite time inside at home more bearable.
Beauty rituals in quarantine are less about make-up, and more about skincare. Credit: Getty
Some people like to bake sourdough. Others like to do jigsaw puzzles. Skincare obsessives like to layer luxurious face oils and serums. They argue it is both indulgent and relaxing; the perfect antidote to stress and anxiety.
Online beauty retailer Adore Beauty reported growth in its face masks (61.2 per cent) and skincare tools (112 per cent) categories for the period of March 23 to April 23.
“It's been fascinating to see what customers prioritise during isolation,” says Kate Morris, CEO and founder of Adore Beauty. “Make-up is less important, but skincare is seen as essential.
“We've always believed that beauty is more about self-care than it is about appearance. People are feeling anxious and uncertain, and looking for products that give them comfort and a feeling of being looked after.”
Sheet masks
Selecting the right sheet mask or face oil for you will depend on your desired result.
Go-To’s Transformazing Mask is like a drink of water for your face, while Biossance’s Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil offers a gorgeous and calming scent with the added benefits of vitamin C (brightening and firming).
Miranda Kerr’s Kora Noni Glow Facial Oil is super lightweight, great for sensitive skin types and absorbs instantly. And then there's Aceology's Green T Infusion Gel Mask a skin-plumping mask with a gel-like consistency.
Skincare tools
The pairing of a sheet mask or a face oil with some sort of crystal tool takes your DIY facial from good to heavenly. And when I say crystal, it’s not because I believe in its so-called healing properties. Jade rollers and gua sha tools − facial massage devices − are extremely effective in pushing the product deeper into the skin, all the while relieving tension in your face and reducing puffiness.
You can also keep them in the fridge for a more refreshing massage. The SALT BY HENDRIX Rising Sun Gua Sha is a good option but lots of brands such as Herbivore and Skin Gym stock them too.
Adore Beauty’s senior skincare manager Danielle Chee says other skincare tools like the Lonvitalite Dermal Roller are also selling out as people aren't able to visit their usual facial salon or clinic for regular micro-needling sessions.
“It's such a nice sentiment, knowing that everyone is stuck at home with ample time to focus on themselves, and investing in self-care and skin at this crazy time.”
If you're a fan of having an at-home spa day, FOREO devices help to both deeply clean skin and amplify treatments. Using a tool like the LUNA Fofo twice a week will clean out gunk in pores; leaving skin super-soft and clean, not tight or dried out. Ms Morris recommends the UFO device, which combines sheet-masking with LED and thermal treatment, and says the new BEAR is already a bestseller. It's a micro-current device, similar to NuFACE's Trinity, which aims to tighten the skin and firm fine lines.
Home fragrance
Adore Beauty also reported 105 per cent growth in its home fragrance category, which is no surprise considering the amount of time we’re spending indoors.
Candles make the notion of staying inside more exciting, plus they can transform a mood.
As Glasshouse Fragrances’ founder Nicole Eckels eloquently puts it: “It’s the tangible feeling of watching the warmth of the flickering light work in tandem with the scent to melt away the stress of a busy day.”
According to Ms Eckels, certain fragrance notes work better in particular rooms.
- For the living room, opt for something soft, sweet or floral to keep the space feeling fresh and inviting. Try something like Boy Smells' Gardener or Diptyque's Gardenia
- For the bedroom, sensual or soothing notes of soft florals and musks can help you unwind or start the day. Try something like Glasshouse Fragrances' Kyoto in Bloom or BYREDO' Fleur Fantome
- For the study or spots where you're spending a lot of time working from home, notes such as sandalwood or cinnamon can be useful for concentration and focus. Try something like Le Labo's Santal 26 or BYREDO' Bohemia
Other popular options include Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 and Glasshouse Fragrances’ A Tahaa Affair (also known as that Peter Alexander scent). Glasshouse Fragrances’ We Met in Saigon is a vibrant punch of citrus; Glasshouse Fragrances’ Bora Bora Bungalow is a glass of sunshine. Diptyque’s Feu de Bois is a blend of smokey and sexy and Diptyque’s Baies is the perfect balance of fresh and fruity.
To get the best burn out of your candle, ensure that when you first light it, you burn it for a minimum of two hours. Then, after that, no more than four hours at a time.
“We say this because candles have a wax memory,” says Ms Eckels.
It means if you burn the candle for only a short period of time, this will cause tunnelling (when a candle burns down its centre, leaving hard and wasted wax around the outside) so make sure the pool of melted wax reaches the edges of your candle before you snuff the flame.