‘Naked’ Skin: The New World of Beauty
The coronavirus has changed so much about our lives . . . even our beauty routines. For example, hair and nail salons were largely shuttered for much of the spring and early summer, and even with reopening’s, many of us remain reluctant to spend too much time in enclosed spaces. Furthermore, you don’t need as much makeup and styling products to attend a Zoom conference. People are becoming more comfortable with their natural skin and a more relaxed look.
“This whole experience has definitely made me question my beauty routine,” Annie Schmidt, 37, vice president at an entertainment company based in New York, Los Angeles, and London, told Vogue magazine. “If I don’t need to put on a full face of makeup to do a meeting over Zoom, why should I have to when we go back to meeting in person?”
The pandemic has sparked a trend that our board-certified dermatologists can’t help but applaud: less makeup and simplified beauty routines that result in healthier skin with fewer breakouts and irritation.
There seems to be a greater acceptance of ourselves as we look without the waxing, the blowouts, and the monthly color touch ups that all felt so necessary a mere nine months ago.
One survey found that 22 percent of women report changing their skin care routine because of the pandemic. The forced isolation of the shutdowns has resulted in more women having the time to practice healthy skin care, as well as what the philosopher Nietzsche termed a “reevaluation of values.”
Professionals are seeing results
And the trend has spread worldwide. “I’m going for a more natural look than I did before COVID-19,” Janet Muggivan, who spent more than 25 years in beauty public relations and marketing, told the Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald.
And dermatologists around the country have noticed the results of more natural, “naked” skin.
Referring to many cosmetics and a majority of popular skin-care products, Jules Lipoff, an assistant professor of clinical dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, told The Washington Post recently: “In general, there’s no medical hygienic benefit to really almost any of this. For a society, we like to smell a certain way and look a certain way, and whenever you’re adding additional chemicals, ingredients, there’s more and more risk of getting contact dermatitis or allergies or even just skin irritant reactions.”
The exception, of course, has been the wave of “maskne,” the flare-up of acne breakouts experienced by some who wear face masks, which we addressed recently. Oddly enough, however, this phenomenon may be partly responsible for the new focus on a scaled-down beauty regimen.
“People who haven’t broken out with acne for a while are now paying more attention,” Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist and assistant attending physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital, told The Post. The upsurge of maskne has prompted many to favor “cleaner, easier beauty regimens,” he added.
So how can you present your best “naked” skin to the world and still feel good about yourself and your appearance? It’s all about self care.
Use sunscreen
In addition to the risk of skin cancer, the sun damages the top layer of skin with each exposure. Over time, this adds up, resulting in wrinkles, age spots, and visible redness. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 whenever you’re out in the sun, including during winter months.
Clean gently
Hot water dries skin, and causes redness and irritation in those with sensitive skin. Use lukewarm instead. And don’t scrub. Gentle cleansing removes dirt without removing natural oils needed to protect the skin’s surface. Don’t shower longer than 15 minutes, which removes the protective oil from your skin, as do harsh cleansers. Stick to a gentle cleanser and moisturizer; check with us for recommendations for your skin type.
Hydrate
Water moisturizes skin from the inside out, as well as flushing out toxins and plumping up skin cells. Aim for eight glasses (64 ounces) a day. If you like, add lemon, lime, cranberry, or orange juices, or cucumbers to vary the flavor. Alcohol and caffeine draw liquid from your body, so minimize their consumption.
And keep your skin moisturized. Pat skin gently after washing, and seal in the remaining moisture on your skin with a moisturizer suited to your skin type. We can recommend the right type for you.
Eat right for your skin
Sugar, refined flour, red meats, and highly processed foods can all irritate skin, as well as breaking down the elastin and collagen you need to keep your skin looking younger. Try to eat the recommended five fruits and vegetables a day, especially those high in water, including leafy greens. Foods containing healthy oils include nuts, seeds, and avocados will all supply your skin with healthy fatty acids. This will help achieve more healthy, natural skin.
And to enhance your natural beauty, remember our full line of FDA-approved skin care treatments. We have many ways to give your skin a quick path to a fresher, dewy glow. More important, we can analyze your skin type, review your current skin-care routine, and provide advice on the best type of skin care products for you.
Non ablative rejuvenation
And if your “naked face” is not quite where you want it to be with broken capillaries and brown discoloration consult with us about having a BBL hero forever young treatment. We want you to love your natural skin!
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Text GENESIS to 8777403376.
