Welp - the world is officially grounded. And just like when we were teenagers, this widespread order to “stay in our rooms” has given people major feelings and cabin fever.

But this mandatory staycation doesn’t have to feel like house arrest.

It can also be the world’s longest spa day (yes, please!) - or, at the very least, the perfect time to stay on top of your skincare routine and get your post-quarantine spring glow on point.

Here’s how.

Follow a Comprehensive Routine

Sticking to a complete skincare routine every day is hard! You have kids, jobs, hobbies, errands, friends - a life full of things that zap your energy, take your time, and make following a multi-step skincare routine seem nearly impossible.

Well, now you're probably stuck at home and looking for some things to keep you sane, and studies actually show that self-care practices that require you to hone in on your senses - sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch - are proven to help you cope with stress (plus, it’ll be nice to feel like you have total control over something every day, right?). 

That’s why we recommend that you dedicate five minutes to your skincare routine every day - and try to be as present as possible during those five minutes. 

Not sure where to start? Well, the right routine for you depends largely on your skin type, your current concerns, and your areas of focus. That said, this graphic will give you a good starting point:

You can read more about each step and why it’s important here. Don't have all the products you might be interested in? You can also find miniatures of every product you might need (the perfect amount for the duration of your staycation) here. 

Try Cleansing Day and Night

Cleansing the skin twice a day is widely recommended, but the reality is that most women tend to skip the morning routine (except for some SPF, we hope!).

Now’s the perfect opportunity to kick things up a notch and see if a morning and evening skincare routine will make a difference on your skin (for reference, Halle Berry is a religious twice-a-day cleanser, while Salma Hayek sticks to one - so you really can’t go wrong).

Pay attention, though, when you give this a try. Especially if you're older or have a dry or sensitive skin type, over-cleansing can strip away your natural oils and leave you feeling dehydrated and chapped.

In any case, make sure that you use gentle cleansing products that don’t contain harsh chemicals and stripping ingredients, and maintain a gentle touch throughout your routine to avoid any unnecessary irritation.

Give Your Hair and Nails Some Love

Kylie Jenner recently went on Instagram Live to discuss the importance of social distancing and explain how she's getting through it. According to her, she actually self-quarantined throughout most of her pregnancy, so she has a ton of experience in this area.

She explains, “When I was pregnant, by the way [...] I literally didn't leave the house [...] I would do full spa days. Take long baths, do [face] masks, take care of my skin, take care of my hair.”

Our recommendation? Follow in her footsteps and go all out. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Take a spa-worthy bath:

Incorporate Epsom salts, bath bombs, essential oils, or candles. And remember - this is good for both mind and body, as a warm bath can decrease muscle tension, ease fatigue, and loosen up any existing chest congestion.

Do a luxurious hair mask:

Give your hair some extra nutrients. If you don't have any great hair masks lying around (and you're hesitant to head to the beauty supply) you can create some effective, celeb-approved DIY masks using some of the food and beverages in your kitchen:

• Mayonnaise: Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, and Zoe Saldana reportedly use this controversial condiment as a hair mask to lock in moisture and boost shine! And it makes sense - traditional mayo contains lots of hair-healthy ingredients like egg, lemon juice, and vinegar.
• Ketchup: Blake Lively also uses ketchup to color-correct her hair if it looks ashy or green. She’s not alone with this hack - Sienna Miller did it for years to get her vividly colored hair back to blonde.
• Avocado: Adriana Lima reportedly uses an avocado hair mask once a week for long, luscious tresses. She simply mashes an avocado, mixes it in with her conditioner, and leaves the mask on for 30-45 minutes. The result? Shiny hair for days.

The beverages:

• Coca Cola: Suki Waterhouse reportedly rinses her hair with Coca Cola. Why? It’s supposed to add texture and body to fine, limp hair.
• Beer: In the same vein, Catherine Zeta-Jones conditions her hair with honey and beer for body and volume. Want to give it a try? Coat your hair in your beer of choice, leave it on for 20 minutes, and shampoo it out.
• Cranberry juice: Nicole Kidman swears by this hack to help maintain her red hair - and she switches to champagne when she’s a blonde!

So take a look at what your hair needs, break out the condiments, and figure out which hack works for you! 

Give your nails the VIP treatment:

You probably won’t be able to go to the nail salon for a few weeks (it's definitely not social distancing-friendly) so you’ll have to give your nails some TLC at home.

You can find our 5 top tips for maintaining natural, beautiful nails here.

Sleep and Drink Water

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but this is nothing more than a pipe dream for the average working woman. 

Now is the perfect time to catch up on your zzz's and get your circadian rhythm back on track. Here are some tips to help get you started: 

• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule (even if you're not exactly sure what day or year it is) 
• Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual 
• Evaluate your bedroom to see if it has the right temperature, sound, and light 
• Make your mattress and pillows as comfortable as possible 
• Beware of hidden sleep stealers like alcohol and caffeine
• Turn off your electronics before bed 

Next, the water. While there's lots of debate about how much water we should be drinking, here's a simple rule of thumb that seems to work: you should be drinking about half your weight in fluid ounces of water - so, if you weigh 120 pounds, it's recommended that you drink about 60 ounces a day. 

And now that you're at home, it'll be easier than ever. Just keep a full bottle at your side at all times and remind yourself to drink every 20 minutes or so. Soon enough, it'll become a habit and your body will thank you for it. 

Consider More Consistent Exfoliation and Vitamin C 

Here’s the thing: exfoliation and vitamin C is great for the skin. The right exfoliator can dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the surface of your skin and encourage cell turnover, increase skin repair, and help nutrients reach the inner layers of the skin. Similarly, vitamin C can reduce signs of aging, repair damaged skin, accelerate collagen synthesis, and correct hyperpigmentation.

This comes with lots of visible benefits, including:

• Improved skin texture
• Balanced skin tone
• Increased hydration
• Diminished lines and wrinkles
• Reduced signs of sun damage, including wrinkles and crepey skin

The problem? Sun. The fear of excess sun exposure - which can cause dark spots, sun damage, and other serious concerns - can (rightly) really limit how often and when you apply these products, and your skin can suffer from the lack of consistency. 

Right now, you won’t be spending too much time outside, which means it may be a good time to take things up a notch or to try more concentrated products that'll give you results. 

Summary 

We're living in unprecedented, wild times - and, without a set schedule or anywhere to go, it can really feel like a blurry free-for-all. That said, it can also be the perfect opportunity to take the reigns and elevate your skincare routine to the next level. 

Your skin will thank you for it.