If working from home taught us anything, it was that we had to take a long, hard look at ourselves (in the top-right corner of our Zoom window). The result? A pronounced increase in people reporting low self-esteem, in a phenomenon researchers called Zoom dysphoria.
Suddenly, we became preoccupied with our appearance in a way we haven't experienced before. Doing our makeup every morning took on a new level of significance, as we pondered 'Who exactly are we putting this on for?" In fact, many of us decided to shelve makeup completely, preferring to deal with blemishes directly, rather than covering them up.
With video calls (hopefully) becoming a thing of the past, where does that leave our relationship with our self-esteem and our skin? While being on Zoom constantly may have encouraged unhelpful behaviours, such as checking our appearance constantly, the thought of attending meetings where we can't not-so-subtly check our reflection is still *slightly* unnerving.
Ahead of our return to reality, we could all use a confidence boost. One person who embodies confidence is digital content creator Eimear Varian Barry. The Irish mum-of-three is beloved on Instagram for sharing her life – from parenting tips to skincare recommendations – with her following. And, while Eimear appears to exude confidence, it hasn't always been this way. In fact, over lockdown, Eimear's relationship with her skin changed completely.
At the start of lockdown, Eimear recalls, "I was so consumed with the wellbeing of my children I couldn't be bothered. [Makeup] went out of the window. I've really concentrated so much more on my skin in the last year."
This was a relatively new experience for Eimear, who admits that up until recently, "I still had in my head that you can't work on something [big], without being caked in makeup." Then one day, Eimear looked in the mirror and "took everything off." She explained, "I put on a bit of lipgloss and a bit of mascara and I would never have done that before. It's been huge for my confidence."
The key to Eimear's increase in confidence? Well, her skin is "in a really good place." When asked how exactly she got to this place, she started, "I've been cleansing, I've been toning..."
Eimear breaks off here to talk about the revelation that is toning (how many of us are guilty of forgetting this step?!). She says, "I never felt that toning was all that important... I think we focus more on the cleansing and the moisturising, like getting [makeup] all off and then hydrating."
That's not to say that cleansing and moisturising aren't important too. Eimear's PM skincare routine starts with Neutrogena® Clear & Soothe Micellar Jelly Make-up Remover: "It's got a jelly-like texture to it, and contains turmeric in it, and is really calming for my blemished skin." Eimear also points out that as she has red cheeks, she needs a product which is also calming.
While turmeric has long been celebrated for its fantastic properties – as an antioxidant and soothing for the skin – it's great to see it finally being recognised as a powerful skincare ingredient. It's also the key ingredient in Neutrogena's Clear & Soothe range, which was designed specifically for those with sensitive skin, like Eimear.
As for removing makeup? According to Eimear, Neutrogena's micellar makeup remover clearly does the job (and then some), she explains, "It's great for taking off waterproof makeup – including mascara." As Eimear says, "All of that."
After removing her makeup, it's time for a second cleanse: "I use Neutrogena® Clear & Soothe Mousse Cleanser, which I'm absolutely obsessed with. I just love the feeling of it, it's really soft on my skin."
"Then I set it with Neutrogena® Clear & Soothe Toning Mist, which feels like a blanket over your skin – it sets in really nicely. And then, I use Neutrogena® Clear & Soothe Moisturiser to seal it all in."
Another thing Eimear likes about the Clear & Soothe range is that it still delivers results when applied in small amounts. She explains that with other products, "We feel like the more [...] we put on, the more it will work [..] And then suddenly, it's gone and you realise that you actually didn't need to use that much of it."
So, how does Eimear feel about her skin going forward? Pretty good, as it turns out. She explains, "I just want to keep taking care of my skin and viewing my skin how I am at the moment. If you'd told me that I would be feeling this confident without wearing makeup, I would never have believed you because I didn't take care of my skin a few years ago. I used to think [makeup] would just 'make me perfect' if I could cover [my skin] all up."
Shop the Neutrogena range for your skin solution at Boots.co.uk
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
