Rethinking My Beauty Routine in the Time of Quarantine

 Long before going into quarantine, I’ve held on to my beauty routine as a tangible form of self-discipline and control. It means that I have my shit together and that I’m taking care of myself. Because beauty, in one way or another, is a discipline in itself.  Not to mention, looking good was also an easy way for me to force myself to feel better and get things done. 

With a global health pandemic in our midst, being able to do a consistent beauty and self-care routine is a privilege that I’m afforded to have in my life. I realized that the things that were normal for me won’t cut it anymore, such as doing a skincare routine that takes at least six steps. From a financial (and emotional) standpoint, life in quarantine has compelled me to shorten my skincare routine. With prices rising and retail stores not operating at normal, there's a pang of guilt that's present whenever I attempt to buy a skincare product that’s part of my routine. 

On an emotional level though, there are other things to think about during these times, and on most days, I can’t really be bothered to go all out with my skincare. What I thought was necessary for me in the grooming and self-care department has changed. I went from having a 6-step skincare routine to one that consisted of cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen.

When it comes to makeup, I am currently implementing a similar approach with my products. As much as possible, I’m trying to explore and rotate them in true Shop My Stash fashion. Through this system, I get to rediscover old and new favorites, while finding ways to make “wonky” products work for me. Not to mention, this system has also encouraged me to find dupes of products that I want within my existing collection. As much as I want a tube of Glossier’s Generation G lipstick to add to my arsenal, I discovered that I have already amassed enough color dupes of the original product in my collection. And that’s perfectly okay. 

Despite this, I haven’t made many changes to my makeup routine. On days whenever I feel like wearing it, I stick to my usual six-step system. I still see my makeup routine as something that will provide structure to my day, or as something that will perk me up from a bad mood or the grim news cycle. However, on days where I don’t feel like it, I just let my skin breathe and give myself a break. 

Aside from adopting these changes, I am rediscovering and economizing beauty products along the way. Rather than using my go-to products (that are harder to purchase), I would swap them for items that are similar in function and are more accessible to buy. I can’t be discerning and picky with my beauty items anymore. Now, whining about running out of my favorite moisturizer feels like an insensitive and privilege-ridden thing to do. 

I learned from the changes I’ve made in my beauty routine that self-care comes in different forms, and the ways we practice it are influenced by our circumstances. Before, I used to think I can feel beautiful when I have a complete arsenal of products (and with options to boot!). With a pared-down beauty routine, I realized that I probably don’t need a lot of products in my collection. Not to mention, having a beauty routine is a privilege that I’m grateful for, and it’s something that I’m not going to take for granted. Am I still going to be into beauty? Of course. I’m still holding on to my dream of becoming a beauty editor! Having a solid beauty/self-care routine is nice, but it’s just one aspect of my journey towards feeling beautiful. These days, I feel beautiful when I’m enjoying my hobbies, reaching out to friends, and taking care of my health. 

In these times, we all cope differently and our priorities have inevitably changed (and will continue to change). While I will forever appreciate the structure and calmness that my beauty routine gives me, I also have to accept that there’s a need to adapt to a new normal. It’s going to be quite a shift, but a necessary and beautiful one at that. 


Lea Bolante is a 25-year old Filipina writer. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Lea has worked in various roles in the advertising industry, but writing remains her true love. She is learning not to attach her accomplishments and her work to her self-worth. Her writing focuses on beauty, pop culture, and processing life. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @leabolante.


This article was edited by Kailah Figueroa

Copyedited by Tah Ai Jia

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