Yes, you should still wear sunscreen while you're self-quarantining
When you're self-quarantining, a lot of your normal routines — trips to the gym, daily grocery runs — must change out of necessity. But you can, for the most part, maintain a skincare routine. It might even provide a much-needed sense of normalcy when it feels like everything else is changing fast. Still, do you need to switch it up at all to accommodate your new reality?
When it comes to skincare, the big difference between normal you and quarantine you is the amount of time you're spending outside. You may not be getting as much sun — or even seeing the sun — as much as you normally do. Still, you shouldn't forgo sunscreen, says Dr. Nava Greenfield, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Brooklyn, New York. While it may be true that sunscreen is less important when you're indoors, windows don't filter out harmful UV rays, which means your face still needs protection.
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Dr. Greenfield also suggests paying particular attention to (gentle!) exfoliation to keep the skin fresh and healthy. Think of this as similar to exfoliating after a flight: Dry air may cause your skin to overproduce oil, which, if trapped under dead skin cells on your face, can cause breakouts. Exfoliating regularly will help get rid of those dead skin cells. Just be careful, as usual, not to over-exfoliate.
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Spending so much time indoors also means you're probably in dry air, especially if your home is heated by radiators. This means hydration is more important than ever. If you've already switched to a lighter spring moisturizer, it may be wise to switch back to a rich moisturizer for now, especially if your heat is still on.
"Now is a time that you may want to use your face masks daily" for even more hydration, adds Dr. Greenfield. (Benton's Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack is my personal favorite, but any hydrating mask that works for you is a good choice here.)
If you want, social distancing is also an opportunity to take a break from makeup, which will give your sweat glands a chance to clear out. Plus, it'll make your routine at the end of the day that much easier.
Of course, it's OK if you can't bring yourself to be as strict about skincare as you used to be. This is a high-stress time for most of us, and strict routines provide comfort for some and anxiousness for others, especially when tensions are already high. It's all about what will make you feel best in the long run! If you just want to wash your face and use a gentle moisturizer with sunscreen, that's fine. If you want to commit to a 12-step routine and a full face of makeup every day, that's fine too.
One thing you shouldn't skimp on, though: drinking lots and lots of water.
Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.
