When you are spending a lot of time at home, it can be really hard to convince yourself to change out of your pajamas and not turn into a complete couch potato. I have worked from home for the last several years, and I’ve found that by maintaining a beauty self-care routine at home, I feel better about myself and enjoy the fact that I can do things that are good for my body (and my sanity!) without ever leaving the house.
Below, I’ve listed the top beauty self-care hacks that I use at home, and I hope you love them as much as I do.
Do Face Masks
I probably don’t need to lecture you on how great face masks are, but as someone who was late to the mask game, I can definitely say that they make a huge difference when it comes to how your skin looks and feels.
Some masks are the leave-on for 10 minutes kind that are intended to deep clean your face, while others are deep moisturizers and don’t have to be washed off. I listed my favorites below, but I want to note that for the jet lag mask, I use it more as an overnight moisturizer. I recommend applying it before bed and not washing it off, but sleeping with it on all night.
Self-Tan
There’s something about having a slightly bronze glow that makes me feel instantly better about myself. If you’re at home and want to avoid sun damage or don’t have a way to get a natural tan, sunless tanner is a great option.
I will be the first to say, I absolutely HATE tanners that smell bad or make you look orange, and I’m also pretty opposed to things that take a long time to apply and dry. My favorite self-tanners are actually moisturizers, meaning that they give you a gradual tan over several days rather than a one-time application. I have found that these are way more low maintainence, are significantly less likely to streak or turn orange and they overall smell better.
My favorite drugstore self-tanning moisturizer is the Jergens Natural Glow Medium to Tan moisturizer, which I usually apply in the evening after showering. It has a very gradual color, and you apply it just like you would apply regular lotion.
I also really like a product that I bought from an influencer – Sivan Ayla’s N32 self-tanning cream. It smells good, goes on like regular lotion and gives a really nice color. It’s slightly more expensive (but very good quality), and I’ve found it works better to apply it in the morning and let it dry for a few minutes, rather than applying it before bed.
Exfoliate & Moisturize
One of my must-do daily rituals is exfoliating in the shower and applying a moisturizing lotion afterward. I honestly err on the cheap side when it comes to the exfoliating scrubs and lotions that I use, but they work really well and get the job done, so why not save money?
In terms of exfoliating, you definitely don’t have to do it every day, but I recommend exfoliating your arms and legs at least 2-3 times per week while in the shower. It might sound like overkill, but you would be amazed at how much softer your skin is when you start implementing this into your routine.
For lotion, I recommend applying a liberal amount after you get out of the shower. I usually shower before bed, so I apply lotion before going to bed and let it soak in overnight. Below, I listed my favorite exfoliating scrubs and moisturizing lotions.
Use an Anti-Aging Cream or Under-Eye Moisturizer
I know you hear this in literally every women’s magazine that was ever written, but it’s true – if you use preventative skincare, your skin will thank you later.
My mom is great about using facial moisturizer and eye creams, and now in her mid-60s, she looks at least 10 years younger. I don’t think you need to necessarily spend $$$ on your skincare routine, but there are a few things that are worth investing in earlier rather than later.
I personally love IT Cosmetics and their anti-aging skincare products, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option, Olay also has a good product.
I have found that using any one under-eye cream with retinol on a daily basis makes my skin really red and dry, so I try to only apply it about 3 times per week. On the days when I’m not applying an anti-aging cream (or times when you can’t, such as when you’re pregnant), I use the most old school moisturizer ever – vaseline. I literally cannot tell you how much better my eyes look when I use Vaseline on a daily basis. I linked the products I referred to below, if you want more information on them.
Take Care of Your Nails
I usually do acrylic nails at the salon, and go in about once a month to get them filled. However, if you’re at home and don’t want to pay for the upkeep or aren’t able to go to the salon, simple nail polishes are a great option.
I am very much into low-maintenance beauty routines, so when I’m using regular polish, I prefer to use one that doesn’t show a lot of chipping and doesn’t need to be touched up very frequently. My favorites are Funny Bunny, Ballet Slipper and if you’re really not wanting to touch up, a regular clear polish.
Those are my top beauty self-care hacks to try at home, I hope you love them as much as I do! If you have any products you think are a must-try for any of these routines, please comment below and let me know about them!
Want to glow up even more? I made a few simple lifestyle changes and lost 20lbs without working out or going on a diet – you can download my free PDF on exactly what I did below.
