The beauty products that got me through lockdown
Photo: dwell.com
Where beauty routines are concerned I’ve always taken a low-key, minimalist view. Lockdown has elevated this approach to another level: barely-there has become rarely-there. As I’ve always suspected, less makeup really is more. I may never attempt to wonkily apply winged eyeliner again.
Here are the beauty products that have seen me through lockdown.
What do do about Feral Eyebrows
Initially, I tentatively plucked and trimmed the eyebrows and managed to maintain the shape but now they’ve gone full feral, I need another solution. In Before Times, I went to Blink Brow Bar to have eyebrows threaded and the wiry gronde (grey blonde) hairs dyed every few appointments. Now that is verboten, the wild brows have taken on a life of their own and plucking/ shaping the stragglers has become harder as they have grown longer and lighter. Rimmel’s Wonder’ full Brow 24-Hr Brow Mascara is great for colouring in and ever-so slight taming. Though months without dye means the brows lack definition; the DIY dye kit is in the post and I’m hoping once they’re more visible, shaping will be easier. I really must buy a magnifying mirror. And what is it with midlife eyebrows? – patchy at centre, long and wiry at the ends, I may have to try a comb over.
Lockdown Skin
During lockdown I’ve been raiding the bathroom cabinet, using up everything I can get my hands on to avoid having to visit our local Superdrug. As I am often sent beauty products to trial, this has been no hardship. Dead cells have been removed with Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste and, as a result, my skin is looking brighter. Balance Me’s Vitamin C Repair Serum smells gorgeous and citrus-y and helps soften and brighten, too. Favourite lockdown moisturisers include: Boots No7 Hydra Luminous Day Cream which leaves skin looking lovely and radiant, contains SPF 15 and (apparently) provides an invisible barrier against pollution. As air quality has improved over lockdown, who knows? At the more expensive end of the skincare market, Perricone MD is the dog’s bollocks; whenever I use these top-notch products (the Rejuvenating Moisturiser and Cold Plasma Advanced Serum) my skin looks fantastic and I’m inundated with compliments.
Makeup, what makeup?
There’s not been much of a change to my laidback beauty routine and so not much to report here. A quick stroke of Benefit’s they’re real! mascara and a slick of Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm in Hibiscus or Rose and I’m good to go (for my lockdown constitutional). I was delighted to learn that Laura Dern is another BB lip balm fan. Though makeup is rarely there, I am enjoying Estée Lauder Daywear. This is one of the brand’s best-selling products, a multi-protection tinted moisturiser that smells like fresh cucumber and is very light and luminous. Perfect for Zoom, or days when looking a bit more polished and together feels like the right idea…
Purple Foam, Purple Foam….
Taming unkempt hair
My hair hasn’t been cut this year and I’m starting to look like Wyatt Langmore in Ozark. In the grand scheme of things, that’s no big deal. I can tie my hair back with a Scunci elastic and forget about it – until my appointment on Friday. The Living Proof shampoo is still on the go and from the bathroom cabinet, Pureology Hydrate conditioner has left the Rapunzel-like locks feeling baby soft. Shout out to organic brand Austin Austin, whose products smell delicious and are certified by the Soil Association. The Bergamot and Juniper shampoo I bought Mr TNMA for Christmas leaves hair feeling squeaky clean and smells delicious (so generous of him to share), and comes in a bottle made from recycled material.
Another haircare product on the lockdown list is Color Wow’s Color Control Purple toning + Styling Foam – and not just because squirting a fluffy lilac cloud into my hand is a novelty. The styling foam is an easy way to eliminate the yellow-y tones in the grey around my hairline, without throwing purple shampoo all over the bathroom walls.
One of my friends has dyed blonde hair and highly recommends the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask (from £15). She’s been using it in varying amounts every few weeks throughout lockdown. This treatment is a bit like an expensive conditioner that brightens dull hair in-between colour treatments at the salon, and is also available in Ash Brown, Chic Copper and Warm Chestnut.
The DIY Pedicure
Toe nails as tough as horses hooves. Heels that look like old potatoes. This is what happens when feet are exposed (I’ve been living in Birkenstocks) and largely ignored for months on end. The Body Shop File-a-Foot is the best way to buff away old skin. And when heels crack and start to feel sore I tend to slather them with hand cream or body lotion rather than buying a specific product. When that’s not enough, I have used O’Keefe’s Healthy Feet and the bathroom cabinet has just revealed a Margaret Dabbs Fabulous Feet Foot Oil spray. Result. The at-home, speedy pedicure is not as neat as a professional job but I’ve found OPI nail polish to be a superior, faff-free product and am currently enjoying an array of pastel shades (see below).
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Discussion (42 Comments)
maudie says:
Oh God! The grooming pressure starts again……………………… Like you, continual Birkenstock wearing has given me crusty feet and worse than that, I think my feet have splayed happily out as I tried to get on some Bass Weejuns yesterday and they were so tight I got blisters in half an hour flat! Fingernails keep breaking from all the ghastly hand sanitiser, post-sunshine face looks weirdly anaemic, hair in a long schoolgirl ponytail (Thursday I have an appointment!), and probably forgotten where mascara goes! Perhaps I should stay in lockdown like some kind of Piltdown woman??
Thanks for the Christopher Robin hair mask recommendation! (My hair brown/auburn mostly dyed hair is brassy as anything and ) ….blonde friends keep asking for advice on how to dye/deal with lockdown brassy-ness and it’s particularly tricky if your blonde I think. PS. Love Wyatt from Osark… strangely beautiful I think too.!!
Mrs Tonia says:
Oh Alyson interesting to read what you’ve been using and doing about eyebrows, face, feet and hair. Little overlap. Apart from Living Proof for its conditioner. The best. Like you long locks got pinned off face with clips and kirby grips from
Boots and Superdrug when I had to go there. Carried on otherwise with my favourite products some of which I replaced before lockdown. Shower gel Marrocan Rose one by Ren. Lovely smell. And non drying to skin.
On face I carried on washing with a Caudalie foam wash followed by their Vinosource moisturiser.
Both reordered directly from Caudalie when I ran low. I also take makeup off with their Eau Micellaire excellent product.
For brows I do minimal plucking and then use a two ended Clinique pencil in dark brown and brushes to groom hairs. I have continued to wear a fair bit of makeup. As I usually do but for past few months I’ve used up old palettes of quality eye shadows and old eye pencil. And experimented a bit. Rouge has come from Clinique chubby sticks mixing a rose and a peach one called Rhubarb. With lipsticks and a lip brush I’ve mixed it up more or less as a function of what I’ve been doing. And for zoom conference calls more. Eye liner, mascara and stronger lipstick look.
After badgering my hairdresser with emails I got a call and was able to book first appointment on Saturday. Oh the joy of getting it trimmed. Hairdresser in visor and gown me in mask.Sarah Mowl says:
My go to product for dry arms & legs & too-big hair is Nuxe. Love the smell, the sheen and the way it goes on.
I went through a very ‘use everything up’ stage as had loads of sample size bottles and half used products & am thankfully now at the stage when I have an excuse to buy something new! So, top tips here.
Chris says:
Grey looks brassy too, especially after the strong sunshine we’ve had, so might have to try your recommendation as the one I’m using stains nail and seems to spread round shower tiles willy-nilly.
Harriet says:
I suspect I’m deluding myself with my long lockdown locks….long doesn’t mean lovely, especially round the back where I can’t see the inevitable frizz!
Don’t you just want to get the scissors out on Wyatt’s hair? The combination of him and Darlene is just GRIM….on many levels! But LOVE that show!Miss Nell says:
Ah your description of midlife brows had me chuckling and relieved…I am not alone!
MaureenC says:
Rather my make up routine has dwindled to a bit of lipstick for zooms I became more and more fixated on the second series of Glow Up. I derived a strange, vicarious satisfaction from watching people do amazing art work on faces.
Can I just put in a plea here on behalf of people who are shielded or like me live with someone who is In the very vulnerable category in relation to Covid-19. I’m happy you are all getting to go to the hairdresser but everywhere I look it’s all people are going on about. Please remember that many of us would really, really love a hair cut but we still need to reserve anything that up close and personal in a confined space to necessary medical or dental procedures.
My lovely hairdresser phoned me and offered me one of the first appointments because I was the only person to send a “how are you” message during lockdown without using it as an excuse for advice on roots or similar. I had to turn down his kind offer, put down the phone and burst into tears.Boadicea says:
Dear Maureen
Thinking of you and yours and sending love. You can do this!
With love
BoadiceaI agree. Thanks Maureen for reminding those of us myself included who don’t need to shield of those who do.
I wasn’t gloating about getting a haircut just unthinking of others less able to do so.
Best wishes to you and household in these challenging times ahead.
Suburbohemian says:
They are characters on the Netflix series Ozark. It is gripping. And that is an understatement. Darlene’s brows are an inspiration to take care of your own. They are not understated.
June Girvin says:
Eyebrows! Mine are so faded, and this morning saw the last of the benefit Precisely brow pencil used up. An urgent Boots order is in the offing.
Dry skin or general body moisturising – especially those shins that will go scaly if I don’t keep on top of them – I highly recommend Nivea Coconut body soufflé. It’s light, but not too light and smells delicious.
If you’re going into more of a shoe after Birkenstocks or similar – then Compeed do this amazing stick thing that you wipe over the bits of your feet that are most likely to blister – backs of heels, little toe etc. It’s like magic.
And last – if you haven’t discovered Stila Suede Shade liquid eyeshadow, then get to it. One swipe with the applicator and you’re good for all day – and in lots of lovely shades.LisaBee says:
Can people share more tips on gronde eyebrow dyeing – what brands are good and what colours – do you mix mid-brown and grey (can’t find a good range of shades online)?
I can give you an update, LisaBee – as I dyed my brows last night! I used Eylure in dark brown bought online at Boots. The instructions say leave on for 5- 10 mins but I just left it for five and it was fine. You’ll also need Vaseline to use around the eyebrows to prevent staining.
Follow up – worked brilliantly – 4 min was plenty for me. Quite dark but I know from years of having them done professionally they fade fast. Thanks for giving us courage to do it!
Debbie says:
I used a professional tint purchased on the net. I mixed brown and Black for slighly darker look. I did eyebrows and eyelashes. I was really pleased with the result. So much so it will be home job all the way now. The professional tint was not expensive and really easy to use.
I’m pretending that longer is lovely as I have not had a haircut since the last of December. Currently using a hair mask from ArtNaturals with argan oil and aloe. They recommend 2-3 x a week for 20 minutes, but I shampoo my hair at night, slather this on and sleep with my head on a towel covered pillow. It’s about $13 US. Rinse off in the morning and blowdry. It is a small miracle. I’m trying Skinceuticals retinol 0.3. Slow start as per instructions. There’s US brand called Mr. Pumice that carries a pumi bar and callous remover. I buff the soles of my feet everyday in the shower or tub. (I shall not discuss my recent addition to eyeshadow palettes unless you are starting a 12 step group.) I miss wearing my expensive lipsticks.
I understand your eyebrow pain! I finally trimmed mine yesterday and I’m fairly happy with the results. Definitely an improvement anyway. Like you, my makeup routine has always been minimalist, so lockdown hasn’t made much difference there. As for feet, I’ve been putting lotion on mine every night just before I crawl into bed for years and even though I go barefoot or wear sandals most of the summer, the skin on my feet is soft and smooth. I highly recommend it! Any body lotion will do. It doesn’t have to be something made specifically for feet. Hair? I’m going for my post Covid haircut tomorrow, so I’m busy pouring over my “Naturally curly” Pinterest board and stressing over what to have done! Hopefully by tomorrow morning I will have decided!
Katie Owen says:
Thank you for your latest tips, Alyson. I always appreciate your low-key, minimalist approach to beauty and style.
I’d like to recommend BySarah Organic Hair Oil (https://bysarahlondon.com/products/organic-hair-oil) which I use instead of hair products such as serum and hair spray. This oil comes in a recyclable glass bottle and is much kinder to your hair and the environment. As you only use a small amount of the oil each time you dry your hair it lasts for months which justifies the £23.00 price tag.
BySarah has also just launched the #bysarahponytailchallenge to encourage people to keep growing their lockdown locks and then donate them to the Little Princess Trust. The charity collects human hair to make real-hair wigs for children who have lost their own through cancer. And if you buy BySarah Organic Hair Oil over the summer, a 20% donation will be made by them to the Little Princess Trust. BySarah did an Instagram Live with the founder of the charity: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCY1RJZpLwY/?igshid=lg35liua0fb5
Useful to hear of Alyson’s experiment with eyebrow dye. I may give it a go. I used to get my eyelashes dyed in a salon before summer holls. Hated the experience of the peroxide getting in my eyes during process. So gave up on that and have never had brows done. They could do with it.
Re feet, I do use foot files on callouses and heels regularly. Followed by foot cream. Best inexpensive one I’ve found is from a German vegan brand Lavera.de. Very good products. And a good inexpensive lip balm in their sensitiv line. I’ve bought from health food shops and online too.
I managed to see podiatrist by appointment last week to deal with toenails and callouses.
Temperature taken on arrival. Me in mask, chiropodist in full PPE. Fast efficient, a bit more expensive than usual to cover limited appointments and protective garments. Now back to DIY foot care. She said use files on dry not wet feet. And cream especially on heels.carole b says:
I’ve just dyed my eyebrows too! Eyelure, mid-brown and 5 mins – great result. Before reading this post, and your experience Alyson, I wouldn’t have thought it was something I could attempt – so thank you! It’s weird isn’t it – until a year or so ago I was dying my ‘tache blonde, now I’m dying my eyebrows brown… And so much less hair on my legs – a bonus.
In the last few weeks I’ve really got into using facial and body oils – for the soothing quality as well as great hydration and softening effects… Darphin chamomile facial oil has an amazing, quite complex fragrance and has been wonderful for my dry, sometimes sensitive skin. And I love Dr Hauschka lemongrass oil, for mornings or their rose nurturing oil for after an evening shower or bath…
Really enjoying your posts, and reading about the experiences of this community, thank you.
Jax says:
Any recommendations for a scalp mask or treatment? I started getting an itchier or drier scalp in the past couple of years — even a bit of dandruff if I don’t wash every 2-3 days, which I haven’t seen since I was in my teens.
I’ve been using a customized Prose shampoo and conditioner, which has soothed my scalp more and doesn’t over-dry my hair. However, it still gets itchy and my hair close to the scalp gets a bit greasy. I’ve heard this can happen during one’s 40s and 50s.Katherine says:
Philip Kingsley make an excellent range of treatments for itchy scalps. I used it a lot at menopause and particularly liked the daily lotion.
Got the hair cut yesterday! Had to knock on a locked door, put on face mask, temperature taken, hands sanitised and operations commenced! ( Whilst temperature being taken I was so worried that I would have a raised temperature from the stress along the lines of ‘white coat syndrome’ with blood pressure – no, they didn’t take that too!). Post haircut all brushes, combs and scissors placed in large sterilising tank. Very pleased with haircut but the experience was incredibly different and more functional than enjoyable.
Rhoda says:
On the subject of eyebrows, I think the dyeing business if very high-risk. If (like me) you’ve ever had a Bad Eyebrow Day using a brow pencil at least you can wipe it off and start again. In dyeing If the colour comes out wrong or the shape isn’t quite right it’s WAAAAY worse than a bad hair day and you’re pretty much stuck with it ’til it fades. Maybe I’m just too risk-averse but I’m sticking with my Lancome brow pencils for now. Only downside is that you need to redo them during the day.
Sxanthe says:
I have been testing out a bunch of new products, ranging from ‘cleaner’ cosmetics (Jane Iredale, Burts Bees, ) to a bunch of new skincare products. I have just started using both retinol and caffeine eye cream from The Ordinary and will see if they make a difference over the next 2 weeks.
I would not be without the Guerlain Mad Eyes Brow Framer which is incredibly easy to use, comes in three shades and is not as potentially risky as a dye which can spark an allergy reaction. Expensive but worth it.
Stephanie says:
Another great post, thank you. I am always interested to read about beauty products – finding a product which is truly effective at this mid-life stage is quite tricky! I have been using Lixirskin Universal Emulsion for a while but I have now added the night switches (PHA and Retinol) which have made such a difference. I have also just discovered Korres Body Butter Spray which is great all over, including feet. I have used Margaret Dabbs Foot Oil, which is excellent. However, I won’t buy again as I have just found out that the Emu Oil it contains actually derives from a dead emu… not sure what I thought before! My eyebrows are somewhat in the style of Dennis Healey so always need attention. They have faded slightly with age but they are still quite ‘strong’. Not sure if that is good or bad!
Sarah-Jane Newton says:
I love your recommendations but will only use products that are Cruelty free – it would be great if you could do a Cruelty-Free beauty feature?
Relatable, I think, is the best word for this! I realized towards the end that I was unconsciously nodding along in solidarity! Fortunately, I was able to resolve my ‘wild hair’ issues earlier this week but I’m still longing for a pedicure. Thank you for the timely recommendations because I’m currently prepping my own DIY alternative and hoping for the best possible outcome. Anyway, sorry for the drive-by compliment, but I’m a big fan — adore your style Alyson and love the no-messing-about takes in every article. Sending love and hugs, Alice
Maria Laszynski says:
Love reading the posts. There is too much stuff out there and its good to read what works.
Years ago I gave up dyeing my grey hair. It was dry and wiry and I found it difficult to get a good shampoo and conditioner. Have been using Philip Kingsley for silver hair for years. Keeps hair soft and stops it from looking brassy. Also love his elasticiser treatment. For dandruff and itchy scalp try white vinegar diluted in a little water: apply to dry hair, leave for a little while then wash it.
MariaLinda Pennell says:
These are all absolutely fascinating hints and tips. Especially for silver hair and crusty feet!! AND please can you tell me where that wash stand is from? It’s exactly what I need!!!
Anne-Marie says:
Yes, I’d like to know where the wash stand is from, too. Now got to read the eyebrow stuff…
Hello Linda and Anne-Marie – the photograph is from Dwell but the wash stand is not on their website. I had a quick look online and there’s something similar here:
https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/arezzo-600-matt-black-framed-washstand-with-gloss-white-open-shelf-and-basin
Maria Johnson 
Marie 
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I feel your pain on the eyebrow front!
I very tentatively ordered Eyelure dye kit in mid brown, taking my life in my hands I outlined my brows with Vaseline on the end of a Qtip, mixed and applied and after 7 minutes wiped off to reveal…. perfectly coloured brows! Who knew it was so easy? I’m sure there will be a disaster at some point but for the moment it seems to be fine.
2 more items to get me through have been UpCircle face cleansing balm and Kevin Murphy Cool Angel as a hair conditioning treatment twice a week to keep the gronde tamed.
Thanks Alyson for your blogs.