Against the odds, I’ve somehow been lucky enough to snag myself a 9 to 5 that I adore. The only issue? Despite spending 45 minutes on my hair and make-up every morning, I find myself leaving the office with crusty mascara, foundation caked in every smile line, and hair pointing every which way. “Office air,” one colleague replied sagely, in response to my complaints.
I was sceptical, but it turns out there is something to it. As consultant dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips and trichologist Eva Proudman explain, the AC and central heating in office buildings can reduce indoor humidity, causing the skin and hair to dry up. They say it can even cause long-term changes over time: the depleted skin barrier becomes more susceptible to irritation, redness and flare-ups of conditions like eczema, while scalps can become tighter, making the hair dry, dull and brittle.
If you too are doing battle with harsh lighting and a lack of ventilation during the week, there are some skin and haircare swaps that can help. “If you spend most of your day in an office environment, I would recommend using a moisturiser containing barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides, alongside hydrating ingredients such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid,” says Dr Phillips. “These help the skin retain moisture and reduce dryness.” The dermatologist also suggests keeping a hydrating facial mist (he recommends the Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray or By Sarah Reviver Hydrating Mist) by your desk to refresh skin throughout the day, and even bringing in a small humidifier if it’s particularly dry.
Of course, the basis for everything is a good home skincare routine. Phillips suggests starting the morning with a barrier-supporting serum like Avène Cicalfate+ Intensive Skin Restorative Serum (“which contains provitamin B5 to help soothe, hydrate and support the skin barrier”), or the hyaluronic acid-fuelled SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Multi-Glycan. “Follow this with a ceramide-rich moisturiser, such as Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream, to help lock in moisture throughout the day. Layering a serum beneath a richer moisturiser is a simple but effective way to maintain hydration,” he adds. “In the evening, I recommend a hydrating peptide serum, such as Medik8 Liquid Peptides, followed by a lipid-rich moisturiser like SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, which contains ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids to help replenish the skin barrier overnight.”
H.A. Intensifier Multi-Glycan
When it comes to hair, Proudman recommends keeping a bottle of water at your desk, and lathering up with hydrating products. “Look for ingredients such as glycerin, which is a ‘humectant’ – meaning that it pulls water into the hair and scalp in a good way to combat the effects of low humidity,” she notes. Her preference is Tricotain’s shampoo and conditioner, which she says “neutralise the damaging effects of oxidative stress and free radicals on the hair caused by stale, recirculated air, pollutants, UV radiation and chemical processing”. Post-wash, she recommends locking in moisture with styling products and serums like the MD London No 7 Humidity Shield.
