Post-covid skin

[daisyjgrey]

I had a positive test on 1st Jan this year and isolated for the full 10 days. I didn't have it overly badly, mainly just very very tired, and I've got a lingering cough, although it's not horrendous.

My skin however has not enjoyed the journey. I've had a couple of spots, which is a rare occurrence and it's just...dull and miserable. I've never had particularly bad skin when I look after it but it's not cutting it at the minute.

At night I double cleanse, first with an oil based cleanser and then with Cerave SA cleanser. Exfoliate with Paula's Choice BHA, use Inkey List HA, Inkey List retinol and retinol eye cream and finish with a REN overnight cream.

In the morning I single cleanse, use Inkey List caffeine eye cream and REN glow vit c gel cream and a factor 50 SPF.

I don't know if it's a case of doing something extra (sandblaster?) or if it's that post-covid bleurgh-ness is just visible on my face and I need to rid myself of it by mainlining water and vitamins.

Has anyone else had similar? Any magical elixirs that fixed it if so?!

Yes! I had the same - terrible spots on my cheeks and a grey dullness. I stuck with my usual which isn’t fancy - lactic acid from TO and a moisturiser from a French pharmacy brand (usually whatever’s on offer!) and nothing really made a difference except…. Time! Sorry OP! I’m about 2 weeks ahead of you and things are just now starting to improve….

I’ve just ordered some vit c serum because my skin does like it and I’ve a few red marks left from the spots. Should probs get some niacimide also really.

I’m 49. Now if someone could do the same for my hair…… lol

I use The Ordinary stuff and they have such a massive range I find that they always have something that will suit my skin or tackle a problem.

My friend is a cosmetologist and told me that some people need to change their skin care routine based on their hormone cycle so it could be something in that?

Oooh ok thanks! @SliceOfCakeCupOfTea I think I might switch out a product and see how I go. Maybe ramp up the vit c a bit.

@knitknack I was afraid you'd say that! I'm quite fair skinned and I'm not used to this sort of grey colour I'm going, I feel like someone has moulded my face out of bread dough or something, the texture is all wrong!

I have bleached hair with years of heat abuse under its belt and the only thing I've found that makes a considerable difference is have a wash and blow dry at the hairdressers every so often (they blow dry it properly and it definitely smoothes it all for a while), and Olaplex. I wanted to not like it/it not work but annoyingly it does. And the cheaper Revolution version is definitely not as good unfortunately! The smoothing cream and the oil are both excellent as well.

My skin went a little grey with Covid but that was literally not going out for 10 days and not getting any daylight. Happens this time of year at the best of times, my style twin being the sick kid from The Secret Garden.