As we continue to do our parts to stay home and stay safe, one way we can keep our minds off this bleak period is to set aside time for self-care. Since skincare is a form of self-care, it’s worth paying more attention to our beauty routines to grow closer to our skin goals. Besides, we’ll need extra care to combat maskne and all the blue light we’re exposed to with the long hours of screen time.
Charis Ow, singer, content creator, self-professed beauty enthusiast and co-founder of the newly launched Niko & Clare, is one to speak on the matter. Having grown up with a sister who is 7 years older, she picked up the basics of cleansing, toning and moisturising from the age of 12.
Her love for and interest in beauty has only increased since, and not even the MCO has changed that. On the contrary, she’s grateful to have more time to spare to take care of her skin.
“I’m no longer on set and in front of the camera, so I rarely wear makeup at home these days – unless I have to create content indoors,” Charis reveals. “Having less makeup on means having less clogged pores and more time for skin care!”
Well, her beauty routine must be paying off, judging from how clear and radiant her skin looks sans filters on her Instagram posts and stories. We caught up with social media star cum entrepreneur this MCO 2.0 to learn how to achieve that desirable radiant glow.
Practice a good skincare routine
Starting with the basics, it goes without saying that you need a good skincare routine to maintain good skin. Know your own skin type and concerns, then use the right skincare to meet your needs.
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“In the morning, I would start off by cleansing my face. I’m not very particular about cleanser because I do not have sensitive skin, so I use almost any type of cleanser. Then, I’d use a toner and my current favourite is Fenty Beauty’s Pore-Refining Toner Serum, then DECORTÉ’s pre-serum booster, followed by Fresh’s Kombucha Facial Essence and lastly, La Mer’s moisturising soft cream,” Charis shares on her routine.
She uses the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream or YSL Beauty Night Reboot Serum in the evening (before the soft cream) and the My Scheming peel-off mask to unclog her pores on the weekends. For a boost of hydration, she also uses sheet masks on alternate days.
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen
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“Don’t ever forget your sunscreen because UVA/UVB rays can be very damaging to your skin. Even if you’re staying indoors, sunlight can pass through your windows so it’s better to be safe than sorry!”
Never go to bed with makeup on
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“Always remove your makeup no matter how tired you are, because you’d risk clogging your pores overnight and the oils from your foundation may trigger breakouts too. This will age your skin in the long run.”
Even if you don’t have makeup on, your skin is exposed to dirt, bacteria and pollution (yes, indoor pollution counts) daily, so it’s a good practice to cleanse your face every evening as the bare minimum.
Drink a lot of water
“Drink lots of water because overall hydration of the body would translate to your skin. If you’re dehydrated internally, your skin would be affected too.”
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Do your due research
On what to avoid when it comes to skincare, Charis says: “Using scrub cleansers daily! Your skin is very delicate and using this daily is a big no-no as it can cause micro-tears and damage the skin. Also, don’t mix products without doing your research. You’ll risk breaking out and scarring your skin!”
Follow Charis Ow on Instagram @charisow for more updates and beauty content.
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