Fashion and beauty during the pandemic

I am not sure about anyone else, but my beauty routines have changed significantly during the pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic I would shower, wash my face with a wash-off cleanser, moisturise and do my makeup (eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick) every morning before work. Some days I would wet/wash my hair and wear it curly, and others I would put my dry hair up in a bun with a pearl covered clip, or clip it back with a barrette. This often depended on how cold or wet it was outside as I very seldom use a hairdryer and my hair takes ages to dry. Going outside with wet hair is awful.

In the evening I would remove my makeup with eye makeup remover and a wipe-off cleanser, and get into my pyjamas. Before ped I would get my toiletries, outfit and accessories ready for the next day so I could just grab and go. I would also empty out my handbag and put in everything I needed for the following day.

Saturday and Sunday I would shave my legs, apply hair treatments and face masks, pluck my brows, cut my nails etc.

Suddenly, due to the pandemic, everything went topsy-turvy and now things are rather different.

Every evening I have a lovely hot bubble bath by candlelight, followed by a shower. I use wash-off cleanser and sometimes wash/wet my hair, which I allow to air dry until just before bed, when I quickly blow dry from damp to dry for a minute or two and tie it back into a ponytail.

In the mornings I use micellar water to cleanse my face and apply a light moisturiser. I no longer wear makeup, choosing instead to tint my brows (brown) and lashes (black). I sometimes use lipgloss but it is not very often. For work I tend to dress nicely on my top half and wear pull-on trousers or tracksuit pants on the bottom. I usually wear my hair tied back in a bun so I have reopened two of my ear piercings and wear sparkly studs. I normally have one gold and diamond stud in each earlobe but now I have a second stud on my right earlobe and a tiny diamond at the top of my right ear (cartilage). Luckily I have good bun hair otherwise I am not sure what I would have done.

As we go into winter, I do realise I look more pale and tired than usual, but then so do the people with whom I am Skyping/Zooming/Teamsing. All of us are dressing more casually and wearing less or no makeup. This situation has changed us forever and I am honoured that people are showing their vulnerability.

I have these cheap – €9 – pull-on trousers from H and M in plain black, grey and white houndstooth, and red tartan. They are nice and firm but very comfortable and they wash well.

I never wear a watch anymore, or carry heavy bags around. So when I go out for a brief trip for necessities, all I take is my phone and some tissues. My phone cover holds my credit cards. Who would have thought!