Things we have learnt in lockdown, S & B related.

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

I'll go first! My dry, coloured, collar length hair is better if I wash it once a week, rather than more, and largely leave it to dry without making it dryer with my hairdryer. I can get away with longer with my roots, by using a Josh Wood root temporary touch up on them (even if I have to get DH to do the crown at the back). There's bound to be other stuff...

That olia box dye dries my hair

That Just For Men Mustache and Beard in Medium Brown makes a brilliant eyebrow tint.

Srsly. I'm never going to the salon again. Can do a better job myself.

Not having lash extensions make me look younger

I don’t have to wear leggings/joggers when I’m not at work. It’s ok to wear nice clothes at home.

Regular, goal based exercise as well as getting dressed properly is good for my mental health.

I haven’t used face moisturiser or eye cream since lockdown, or makeup (apart from for the odd Zoom call), and my skin has never been clearer!
Only thing I’m using is Paulas Choice BHA liquid exfoliant, and that’s it.

I've learned that the Veet microdermoblader I picked up before lockdown on a whim is totally amazing. Like a facial at home. Makes your skin so smooth.

(I've never had a facial but I imagine that's what it's like!)

And also that I had a lot of nice nail products in a bag under something and I can do my nails at home and it feels good.

That I really am just ugly, and giving my skin a break from makeup does nothing, it's still greasy and spotty and horrible. My hair is still awful, and I cannot do casual buns like most other people because my hair just looks messy and flyaway and greasy.

Ho him.

That ‘training’ hair to go longer between washes is bollocks - I knew this anyway as watched a friend do this for a year and she convinced herself her hair looked great the second day but it really didn’t except you couldn’t say that to her. But if nobody is going to see me I don’t care about having dirty hair.

I’ve worn make-up two or three times since lockdown began but have also stopped bothering to wash my face at night as haven’t got make-up to remove so any advantage caused by the former must be being wiped out by the latter!

@sparklefarts

Do you think you could see your gp about your skin?. You don’t have to put up with that.

I have quite good skin and don't tend to wear make-up. I live in a sunny country and despite using spf am always concerned about sun damage and wrinkles. I hoped that confinement (6 weeks now) would help. No visible difference.

Lack of sleep makes me look awful - confinement insomnia and nightmares are taking their toll way more than usual work/life hectic schedule and stresses (just a normal life).

My hair gets equally dirty from not going out.

Also hoped my hair would be better but no visible difference, if anything it's a little worse. Roots aren't annoying me yet, though (I get half a head highlights every 3 months and am 9/10 weeks overdue).

Not being able to run or go to the gym (I exercise every day at home with Zumba/dance/aerobics online classes plus CrossFit, but don't have any heavy weights at home) hasn't made me fatter, I actually weigh less, but my body is changing shape for the worse and feels incredibly soft.

My nails have grown so much!

I really miss bikini waxes.

My straighteners were sent to GHD for repair the week before lockdown started and I haven't had them back. My hair actually looks better!

I've stopped wearing lipstick and my husband complimented my 'lipstick' (which I wasn't wearing...) for this first time ever in our relationship.

Getting my brows tattooed was worth every penny.

@sparklefarts I second what fluffy said, for when the zombie apocalypse is over. Also. I have far too much beauty stuff in my stash. Too much perfume, body lotion, shower gel, lipsticks. I'm going to concentrate on getting some stuff used, its overwhelming and cluttery.

I feel better when I am wearing earrings!

@mistermagpie. I stopped using my straightners when bits of my fringe fell off, frazzled, and started embracing my curly locks. Hair much better condition now.

That no skincare can compensate for working shifts and flitting between starting at 5.30am and finishing at 11pm. I am in a regular sleep routine for the first time in about 10 yrs and I look about 5 years younger!

That 2 Zumba classes a week kept the weight off and gave me very firm thighs. Feel like a blob now!

I'm letting my eyebrows grow back fully. I've been trying to keep them in a "delicate arch" for a decade or so now, and want to see if they'll grow back, and what they'll look like. Left eyebrow looks quite promising, but I'm lacking in symmetry at the moment!!

How is everyone having such clear skin o.O I've never had skin issues until lockdown and now I've broken out in spots something tragic >.< (I dont wear makeup any of the time)

I'm the same LityleFox. I'm so blotchy!

And it turns out I was right about exactly
how long I can go between hair washes. Trying to extend it led to hat wearing today.

Oh I’ve thought of another.

That purple shampoo works much better on dry hair.

At the start of the lockdown I stopped wearing make up for the first time in over 40 years. Before, even if I was only popping to the shop or for a walk I had to wear a full face of make up or I felt I looked ill, old and ugly. I don’t know what changed but I just stopped. It’s not like I’ve stopped working because I’m retired so that isn’t it. It just felt unecesssry all of a sudden. I’m now used to seeing my natural face and the more it gets exposed to fresh air and the elements the less pasty and sickly I seem to look. I’m sure I will wear make up again but hopefully won’t rely on it for confidence and security and feel ok to keep baring my naked face in public .

@Binglebong ah I made them. They’re the Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes. Hugely wide and super comfy.

Thanks Trebolla, I'll check it out.

Another thing... I seem to be incapable of using gradual tan without leaving streaky bits round the back of my ankle, or somewhere. If I mix it half n half with body lotion, the errors aren't as obvious, and I just use it every day. Having more time is helpful. The think about my enormous stash of products is that in some ways lockdown has encouraged me to stockpile. Someone was talking about running out of lipstick recently, and I suspect that I have many months worth, all on the go at once

I stopped drinking a week ago as my intake was creeping up. My skin is a bazillion time fresher looking in just a week

Hair serum is not optional.

At 41 and in lockdown without my false lashes I've never looked better! Skin looks fab and weirdly I feel more confident. I am however missing my lovely new clothes I bought since my weight loss