5 Must-Have Tips to Boost Your Skin-Care Routine

For many of us, quarantine has provided a unique opportunity to focus more on self-care – including our skin-care routines. From learning how to get clear skin to DIY skin-care treatments that really work, we’re sharing how to pamper yourself and take care of your complexion with some of our favorite at-home skin-care tips.

5 Homemade Skin-Care Tips for All Your Skin Concerns

1. Start fresh with the right cleanser.

Quarantine may have you skipping your makeup routine altogether, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to wash your face before hitting the sack. As a general rule, oily skin types should wash their face morning and night, while dry skin types can get by with a nighttime cleansing alone. If your skin is blemish-prone or you’re applying a full face of makeup for a day’s worth of Zoom calls, consider double-cleansing the skin by using a creamy oil cleanser followed by a water-based formula. Using an oil-based cleanser first can help gently remove makeup and sebum while protecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Pro Tip: Channel the effortless appeal of Parisian skin-care by incorporating a rinseless micellar water cleanser into your routine. Doing so helps lift away impurities and dissolve residual makeup without stripping your skin.

2. Scrub away the stress of the day.

As we age, our cellular turnover begins to slow down – and that can mean dull, dry skin. Exfoliating two to three times per week helps remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and restore that youthful glow by allowing moisturizers and treatments to penetrate the skin more efficiently.

DIY Skin-Care Scrub

Sugar is an ideal exfoliating agent for even the most sensitive skin, and it’s a gentler alternative to Epsom or sea salt.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar or brown sugar
• 1/2 cup jojoba oil
• Your favorite essential oil

Directions:

1. Combine brown sugar and oil in a mixing bowl.
2. Add one or two drops of your favorite essential oil.
3. Spoon the scrub into an airtight container.
4. Apply liberally to your body and massage into skin.
5. Rinse off the scrub and towel dry.

Pro Tip: For this DIY skin-care scrub, feel free to swap jojoba oil for coconut oil or olive oil in a pinch. No time to make your own? Try our Gentle Stimulating Facial Scrub formulated with walnut shell powder, jojoba oil and aloe instead:

Desert Essence Gentle Stimulating Facial Scrub

3. Treat yourself to DIY skin-care masks.

Nothing says spa day quite like a face mask, so get in the habit of slathering on a luxurious formula one to three times each week. From detoxifying masks made with activated charcoal to ultra-indulgent hydrating masks that quench the skin with moisture, these skin-care essentials offer a wide range of benefits depending on their ingredients.

DIY Skin-Care Mask

Hoping to soothe dry, irritated skin? Whip up an easy DIY mask with honey, oats and avocado. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it helps the skin retain moisture. Meanwhile, oats help calm stressed skin, while avocado provides nourishing oils. No avocado on hand? Sub it for a few tablespoons of plain yogurt to gently exfoliate and brighten your complexion with a dose of lactic acid. Ingredients:

• 1/2 mashed avocado
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• A handful of oats

Directions:

1. Combine the avocado, honey and oats in a mixing bowl.
2. Spoon the mask into an airtight container.
3. Apply to your face.
4. Leave on for 15 minutes.
5. Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Pro Tip: Before you start emptying out your fridge making DIY skin-care masks, it’s incredibly important to do a patch test on your wrist or forearm first. For instance, egg-white masks may make your best friend’s skin glow, but they can potentially irritate your skin when mixed with harsh add-ins like lemon juice and baking soda. If you prefer a ready-made alternative, our Cucumber Charcoal Facial Mask harnesses the power of activated coconut shell charcoal, bentonite clay and pure Australian tea tree oil to draw out excess oil and everyday pollutants for radiant, clear skin:

Desert Essence Cucumber Charcoal Facial Mask

4. Get glowing with a hydrating moisturizer.

Using the right moisturizer is a game-changer for your skin-care routine. Try a lightweight daily moisturizer made with hydrating oils to help nourish your skin throughout the day, and then apply a richer formula with essential fatty acids and phytonutrients at night to protect your skin’s moisture barrier as you sleep. Pro Tip: Seal in your nightly moisturizer by topping it with a restorative face oil.

5. Soothe troubled skin with powerhouse ingredients.

If your skin is irritated (think minor sunburns, blemishes, insect bites and general redness), then it’s important to shift your skin-care focus to calming, soothing ingredients like hemp oil, chamomile, white ginger and aloe. Apply an intensive ointment or balm to help relieve razor burn or post-waxing irritation, or spritz on a nurturing botanical spray to help ease the discomfort of sunburns and insect bites. How do you get clear skin? That can vary greatly from person to person, but if you’re suffering from breakouts, it helps to pay attention to your stress levels, diet and daily habits. Wash your pillowcase and makeup brushes weekly, keep your phone disinfected with alcohol wipes and decompress nightly with a calming essential oil. Pro Tip: Resist the urge to pick at your skin, and target blemishes with a topical solution to help them heal faster. Also, avoid using toothpaste to dry out a pimple and stick to proven skin-care treatments to get the job done without irritating your skin further. Learn more about the sustainably-sourced ingredients we use in our products here.