Wearing masks, excessive hand washing and working from home are all habits that have changed our lives. Our new normal has created new challenges (maskne, anyone?!), but it has also spawned new skincare and bodycare routines, too.

And with working from home here to stay for many of us in some capacity, one particular beauty habit we’re fully embracing is beauty snacking,  aka bite-sized moments of self-care through the medium of skincare.

These micro beauty moments allow us to indulge in looking after ourselves and treat our skin without the worry of having to get on the tube, into a car, or rush our skincare in the morning. It can also be described as the extra steps that we’re doing to top up our skincare routines during the day, too.

So, what are some of the products or gadgets we should be looking at to help achieve our beauty snacking goals? We’ve asked the experts...

Clinisoothe+ Skin Purifier 

This high-tech, cleansing spritz is hydrating, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, making it great to use on acne-prone or damaged skin. It contains hypochlorous acid (HOCI), which is created by our immunity-building white blood cells and is used by the body to attack and clean up infections, bacteria and anything the body doesn’t recognise.

Also, unlike an exfoliating acid, and because it’s naturally occurring in the body, it’s gentle enough to be used daily as part of your regular skincare routine in the morning and evening.

“But, where it really shines is that it can be easily spritzed on during the day to refresh skin and the face – particularly useful if you’ve been trapped in a mask for hours,” says EV Expert and Clinical Director of Ashley Aesthetics, Dr Emmaline Ashley. “Personally, I’ve found that it has made a huge difference in congested and acne-prone skin.”

Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads 

Peels are a great way to remove dead skin cells and debris from pores to avoid clogging and subsequently acne. It then allows your serums to get where they are designed to  go rather than sitting on the top layer of your skin, and even ensures that makeup sits better on your face. But if time has been an issue before then, use the time you’ve saved from the evening commute on this excellent product.

Combining the powerful triple-acid (glycolic, lactic and salicylic) formula with their own patented retinoid, AlphaRet, these exfoliating pads are incredibly popular amongst skincare clinicians and dermatologists.

“These peel pads allow you to perform a safe and highly effective chemical peel from the comfort of your own home,” says Dr Ashley. “They are easy-to-use and leave the skin looking smooth and so bright.” And because you’re at home you can use these earlier in the evening as part of your nighttime skin routine and layer up on nourishing hydrators to amplify the skin rejuvenation benefits.

Ice Globes 

Being at home also means you can utilise home appliances such as your fridge and freezer during the day,  which makes taking a cryotherapy time-out a breeze. “I’m a big fan of ice globes,” says EV Expert and Aesthetic Skin Specialist, Balsam Alabassi. These cooling wands designed to soothe redness and irritation also decrease puffiness, inflammation and the appearance of large pores.

“Facial cooling massage globe tools are great for selfcare days or for those who suffer with irritated hay-fever eyes, or are nursing post party skin,” says Alabassi. “They're best kept in the fridge, but you can also pop them into the freezer for maximum effect.” They can also be used on top of makeup throughout the day too, making them a perfect way to perk up a tired face in-between a long day of Zoom calls.

LightStim 

Want something a bit more high-tech? The LightStim Handheld LED device is perfect for at-home boosting benefits. “The device emits UV-free beneficial light rays in amber, deep red, light red and infrared to reduce and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, alongside acne-bacteria destroying blue light,” says Alabassi. This minimal-fuss gadget is also super simple to use, meaning you can reap the benefits while taking a break at your desk.

AnteAGE Home Microneedling System 

No-makeup days are even easier while working from your home office. This means you can enjoy the benefit of treatments such as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), without worrying about having to leave your skin clear afterwards.

And using this luxury microneedling gadget couldn’t be simpler. “Microneedling is an advanced skin technique that uses shallow needles to stimulate the top layers of the skin. The treatment creates a release of natural growth factors (your skin’s regenerative proteins), naturally encouraging the rebuilding of your collagen and elastin,” says Alabassi.

And regular home microneedling has been shown to provide a whole host of skin-boosting benefits. “It improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, texture and tone and even pore size,” adds Alabassi.

The AnteAGE system contains two products – their special microneedling solution (which is full of stem cell growth factors and hyaluronic acid) and a Microchannel Roller.

So, the real question is, what are you adding to your beauty snack cupboard first?