Change can be brutal or so I realized after dealing with the year-long pandemic as a 21-year-old. My house was going through a major renovation during the first circuit breaker so there is no way of escaping the chore of cleaning out my huge beauty stash to make space for new beginnings. The only makeup products I now reach out for are concealers, brow tint, liquid eyeliner, and multi-use blush stick. That’s not because I don’t enjoy wearing makeup. My relationship with beauty has drastically changed ever since I have embraced the normality of Covid-19. I find myself welcoming imperfections, being gentler on makeup, and focusing on the inside.
We have questioned ourselves ‘Who am I doing this for?’ whenever we are about to put on a full-face of makeup and nowhere to go other than attending zoom calls in your pajamas. Within the four walls I have been cooped up in, I had the chance to rethink my beauty routine. Even after the pandemic passes, I will not go back to the way it was. The abundance of time we have has led us to thrive on self-care and realize how beauty on the inside is just as important as beauty on the outside.
As a Gen-Z, I have explored other ways of self-care on TikTok and I’ve grown fond of the new me. Am I adopting a mellow attitude towards beauty and wellness? What do I tend to purchase now when it comes to beauty? Our take on beauty has undeniably shifted so here are 5 ways I have noticed about our reimagined beauty routines in the ‘new normal’ age.
1. Multi-purpose Is The Way To Go
I am a huge fan of multi-purpose products as they do half the work for you without taking much space in your vanity bag. And, you get more bang for your buck. Sephora has presented us with a number of multi-purpose products but I’ll narrow down the list for ease’s sake.
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Re-cover SPF 40/PA++ CC Cream
Ah, yes. The skincare product was all over Tiktok and here’s why you should try it. It basically works as a multi-tasking skincare-makeup hybrid, reducing redness immediately. On top of that, it’s packed with moisturizing ingredients like Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, and Glycerin, and provides SPF 40 protection from UV light. Many have said that they now forgo foundation because of this innovation.
Nudestix Mini Nudies All Over Face Color 3pc Kit (Limited Edition), Sephora
The founders of Nudestix, Ally and Taylor, are drawn towards products that allow makeup to be done within 10-minutes and that is how the brand started! The Nudestic Mini Nudies All Over Face can do most of your makeup for you: Add a fresh pop of blush to your look with Nudies Bloom in Sweet Peach Peony (a soft peach), for that golden-hour glow finish, and top it all off with Nudies All-Over Highlight in Hey Honey (a golden glow) for a dewy and natural glow.
2. Say Hello To Healthy Hair
Hair makeovers have been popping off everywhere during the pandemic and I am no different. I have dyed and cut my own hair because what else is there to do? Frizziness and hair fall came with it after and this gives us a reason to nourish our hair more as it deserves as much attention as our skin.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo, Sephora
Imagine a facial scrub but for your hair instead! That’s what Briogeo wants to bring to the table. Infused with Binchotan charcoal to draw impurities from the scalp and hair follicle to ensure optimal scalp health, this shampoo is also ideal for those who are struggling with dandruff (like me, sadly). It reduces itchiness and inflammation with its blend of peppermint, spearmint oils and coconut oil without drying out the scalp.
Ultist Color Cream, Shiseido
There’s no better time to experiment with your hair than now. If it goes wrong, you don’t have to worry about facing the crowd as we are cooped up at home. However, Shiseido came up with the Ultist Color Cream, especially for Asian hair, for you to achieve your desired color that lasts longer. Our hair tends to get dry after a hair dye due to the harsh chemicals but Shiseido sorts the worry out with its color in-core technology. It attains moisture by creating a hydrophobic veil to keep your hair beautiful and shiny with long-lasting color. The best part: The color range goes on forever!
3. It’s A State Of Mind
The time we have now has made some of us pick up new things and experiment with different forms of self-care. Whether it be journaling, meditating or crystal healing, it’s a step to improving our mental health. Incorporating self-care that has to do with our inner self is a practice to remain affirmative about the pandemic and it is nourishing for the soul. If you’d like to try something unconventional, you might want to consider tarot reading – head here to find out more!
Monograph Notebook, The Editor’s Market
With so much happening in the world, now is the time to start journaling. It can be a way of how we make sense of the world and record how we are feeling whether we had a good or bad mental health day. Trust me, keeping a journal and looking back at it in the future will reveal how much you have grown as an individual and it is absolutely gratifying.
Super Farmers Urban Farming Kit, The Editor’s Market
It’s a known fact that being around green settings helps to enhance mood and reduce stress and I have noticed a number of people on social media starting to be ‘plant parents’. If you have a corner at home that feels lifeless, perhaps consider growing your own greens with the Super Farmers Urban Farming Kit. There’s something very rewarding about watching your plants thrive in your care.
Rise & Radiate Yoga Fitness Mat, Teaspoon of Love
There’s a reason why there is a huge community of yoga enthusiasts in Singapore, my mom included! The practice of yoga is a way to a greater quality of life and poses a list of physical and mental health benefits. Overtime work culture is common in Singapore and taking just 15 minutes from your schedule to meditate or practice yoga is a great way to take a break mentally and physically.
4. You Are What You Eat
The human body works in amazing ways but nourishing our body during this time can be a daunting task when walking to the kitchen is just a stone’s throw away. But hey, we are living in the age of social media where information is immediate. As a Gen-Z, scrolling through Tik Tok is one of my favorite pastimes and I have found a community sharing their pandemic experience by sharing exciting new recipes and intriguing trends to try at home. From easy vegan meals at home to homemade probiotics drinks, there are endless ways to fuel ourselves.
Liquid Chlorophyll, Nature’s Way
Another day, another new Tiktok trend to try. You’ve read it right, the green pigment in plants is a drinkable liquid now. My Tiktok feed was filled with beauty influencers sharing their love for liquid chlorophyll and the difference they felt in their skin. Naturally, chlorophyll is high in vitamins C, A, E, and K, and it has antioxidant properties to aid acne and inflammation. This concoction is definitely worth trying if your diet is lacking greens.
5. Hands, Hands, Hands
The body parts that are most often neglected are the hands and necks and they show the first signs of aging. I find myself washing and sanitizing my hands more often now so it’s no surprise that my hands show signs of dryness and cracking. It’s not the best look for someone who is 21-years-old so I have been checking out nourishing hand products these days.
Rose Geranium & Basil Hand Sanitizer, Chantecaille
Say hello to botanical-infused hand sanitizer from Chantecaille. Everyone is big on hygiene now and having hand sanitizer on hand everywhere you go has become a habit for many. Chantecaille offers a messy-free version with a spray hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol and you would be in love with the uplifting scent. Bonus: Sanitise high-contact surfaces including phones, doorknobs, keyboards, handrails and more!
Rejuvenating Hand Cream, RE.ERTH
A problem many hand cream users face is that they are rarely long-lasting. Oil also remains on the surface, making our hands sticky and uncomfortable and it’s frustrating when you live in a tropical climate. Re.Erth tackles this peskiness with its rejuvenating hand cream and what is so different about this product? It has retinol for anti-aging properties - hello to youthful hands!
6. Goodbye To Maskne
I may share a tad bit of favoritism for clay mask over sheet mask and let me explain why. Clay masks are here to absorb oils from our skin and prevent all forms of acne, including maskne! Mud masking has been around for centuries and the benefits they possess have turned me into a huge clay mask fan ever since I started puberty and now, it’s helping me with maskne!
Herbal Purifying Clay Mask, Sulwhasoo
When it comes to Sulwhasoo’s Herbal Clay Mask, the Korean skincare brand aims to deeply cleanse the sebum and impurities trapped under our pores without drying the skin out. The Herbal Clay Purifying Mask contains clay, with fine particles refined by natural tidal forces, sourced from the Yellow Sea to remove bodily waste accumulated in expression lines in the skin, fine wrinkles, and skin pores.
Deep Sea Glow Serum, Glowfully
Niacinamide was the talk of the beauty community last year and I was in love with the concept of acids in my skincare routine. Although everyone’s wish list includes retinol, glycolic acid and vitamin C, niacinamide is here to resolve maskne as it has anti-inflammatory properties to combat all kinds of acne and is suitable for most skin types. If you’re looking for niacinamide in a serum, I recommend the Deep Sea Glow Serum from Glowfully! Serums are able to deliver a higher concentration of niacinamide to the skin ensuring effectiveness when it comes to targeting skin concerns.
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How has your beauty routine change during the pandemic? What new habits have you cultivated and what products did you forgo? What is a new normal for you? Let us know how different beauty is now for you!
Stay safe,
Angelyn
