There’s no doubt that the harsh disinfectants, dry hospital air, stressful work environment, and long shifts that a nurse endures on a daily basis take a serious toll on your skin. It can be a real struggle to keep your skin healthy and glowing in such a harsh daily atmosphere. To keep your skin looking its best, you’re going to need to provide some extra tender loving care. Here are some quick and convenient skin care tips, products, and treatments to help you get through your busy day and keep our skin looking beautiful at the same time.
Streamline Your Skincare Routine with Multi-Tasking Products
As a busy nurse, multi-tasking products can be a real lifesaver because they cut down on the number of products you need to apply every day. Here are some products that perform more than one function but still provide the amazing results you’re looking for.
- Facial cleansing oils have been all the rage lately, and for a good reason. Cleansing oils are lightweight, foaming oils that are incredibly effective for removing makeup without stripping away moisture. When you’re exhausted or even just short on time, using a cleansing oil to wash away makeup and impurities leaves it soft, plumped, and glowing, often without the need for an additional moisturizer.
- Using a toner may seem counterproductive when you’re doing everything you can to add moisture back into your skin, but you may be surprised to find out that Korean toners are very different from the alcohol-based toners you might be used to. Korean toners are loaded with natural ingredients that actually hydrate the skin and balance pH at the same time.
- Get out the door faster in the morning by replacing your foundation with a multi-tasking BB or CC cream. A BB or CC cream can take the place of your primer, foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen in one quick step. These fantastic products will not only even out your skin’s tone and texture while providing decent coverage, but they also contain sunscreen and add moisture, so you can apply just one product instead of four separate ones.
- When you’re looking for some serious nourishment but don’t have a lot of extra time, try a sleep mask. Sleep masks can provide a ton of skin benefits while you sleep, and you can use them in place of your regular moisturizer. They are full of active ingredients that regenerate, hydrate, and plump up the skin, so you wake up glowing.
- Even if you don’t have time to do an entire step-by-step Korean skincare routine every day, it only takes a moment to apply a serum or ampoule, and you’ll be thrilled with the results. These multi-tasking products come in formulations for every skin type. Look for a formulation that targets your most annoying issues, such as, dehydration, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, or loss of firmness.
Fast and Easy TLC for Hardworking Hands
A nurse’s hands take a lot of punishment every day. Between all the hand washing, glove use, and sanitizing agents, it’s no wonder that nurses often complain of dry and often chapped hands, especially in the winter time. Of course, all those protocols are absolutely necessary for preventing infection, but there are some things you can do to help keep your hands moisturized and comfortable throughout your day.
Wearing gloves is part of the job but be sure to take them off and let your hands breathe when you can. Wearing non-latex gloves may also help if you are noticing irritation or redness.
When you are cleaning at home, try to avoid the harsh chemicals and go with more natural cleaners to minimize your exposure to the detergents and surfactants that are drying out your skin at work.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is terribly drying and can even cause the skin to chap or crack. As any nurse knows, cracked skin can let in infection. Keep a good hand moisturizer in your scrub pocket and apply it often throughout the day to restore moisture. It only takes a moment, and the results are well worth the effort.
When you’re not at work, use a heavy-duty salve type moisturizer to provide intense moisture and nourishment. Take a moment to apply it before you go to bed and let it work while you sleep. For some extra TLC, massage a good cuticle oil into dry, ragged cuticles, too.
Hands are one of the first areas to show signs of aging, so look for a hand cream that contains an added SPF to prevent sun damage.
Quick Ways to Nourish the Skin on Your Body
Even though the skin on your body may not be visible to everyone like the skin on your face and hands is, it still gets dry, flaky, and uncomfortable. You’ll need to show it some love, too! When life is busy, it’s all you can do to grab a quick shower before you head out the door. Here are some products to help you get the most from your precious shower time.
Cleansing oils aren’t just for the face! They’re made for the body, too. Using a body cleansing oil in the shower cleans the skin while providing moisture and nourishment in one step.
In-shower body lotions are becoming more popular, and they can be a great time saver when you’re in a hurry. They can save you quite a bit of time because you apply them right in the shower; there’s no need to wait for your skin to dry, just towel off and go!
If you are looking for some extra moisture right in the shower, look for a body oil that can be applied to wet skin. Body oils provide long-lasting moisture and are very healing for chapped skin. Using one in the shower saves time and allows you to get dressed right out of the shower.
As a nurse, your job is to take care of others, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of yourself, too! The secret to effective skincare in a hurry is choosing the right products that provide the best results in the shortest amount of time.
DONNA MAURER | GUEST AUTHOR
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