4 Quarantine Beauty Tips
Words Busola Oguntayo
Self-isolation and social distancing has become our new reality and as the whole world complies to the rules and regulations of the lockdown, our usual beauty regimes seem to have taken a hit. The last few weeks seem to be a self-care and beauty nightmare - from outgrown manicures and chipped pedicures, unrecognisable brows, pimples appearing from nowhere and those unexpected skin breakouts that have you saying “I have not even been wearing make up”. So, makeup artist and beauty enthusiast Busola Oguntayo, lets us in on her DIY quarantine beauty tips. The usual monthly trips to the salon or getting completely glam for a night out with friends may seem like a distant memory now, but we’ve found that having more time to ourselves is actually the prime time to indulge in some self-care!
ShutterstockBeautify Your Brows
With almost a month away from our eyebrow ladies, many of us are in a bizarre brow situation and thinking about the times we took it for granted. There are many ways to groom your brows from home including tweezing, waxing of even just a simple trim with a pair of nail scissors. My personal favourite is using my Eyelure tweezers to get rid of excess hairs that do not compliment my natural brow shape. Be careful not to ‘over do’ or thin your brows when shaping. An overgrown brow is better than an accidentally thinned out brow. Although I tweeze my brows every now and again, I am also taking advantage of this isolation period and growing out my brows so that I can achieve a beautiful full and thick shape when I reunite with my eyebrow technician.
ShutterstockAt Home Manicure
Many weeks of excessive hand washing has left most of our hands super dry and left our manis chipped. After washing your hands, always follow up with a moisturiser (an intense one if you have dry skin) to bring back the softness and moisture of your hands. My favourites are the Nivea soft lotion and also the Aveeno hand cream! Now that keeping your hands moisturised has been sorted out, ensure that you are still taking care of your nails. Outgrown shellac nails can be removed by soaking some cotton wool in nail varnish remover and wrapping each nail in foil. This is the best time to put that nail kit that has been sitting at the bottom of your draw to use. Grab a nail file and buffer and shape your nails to perfection. Another option is stick on nails which are a great alternative. They can be ordered online and have you feeling fabulous at home!
ShutterstockBrush up on Your Makeup Skills
Makeup is a girl's best friend whether it is just a little concealer under the eyes or a super glamorous look with a highlight and contour. Whilst many of us are willing to work just as hard at home with 5 Skype meetings - why not make yourself look and feel great by applying some light makeup? My go-to makeup would be a light coverage foundation or BB cream, some concealer and mascara with filled in brows. As well as this, makeup artists around the world, including myself have shifted teaching to digital platforms such as Zoom and House Party. There is so much time to brush up on your skills! Cleaning up makeup brushes is one of the most dreaded tasks for most ladies. Using spare time to disinfect and clean your makeup brushes is more effective than you think because it has great benefits on your skin.
ShutterstockDevelop a Skincare Regime
With most of us not needing to rush out of the door to catch the train to work, we have the time to develop a skincare routine. Following a routine for your specific skin type is essential. Paying attention to your skin care can often feel like a chore, however with time on your side and a break from everyday makeup, now is a great time to try new products and dedicate some extra time to making your skin flawless - or as close to it as possible. My new found loves are face masks and toners!
Busola Oguntayo - Makeup Artist