We all have our days where we don't feel so good and need a little bit of comfort. So, this week, we thought we'd share some of our top tips to help lift and boost your mood, for when you're in need of a pick me up. Remember you can always chat with us on socials too, we love hearing from you! @ARKskincare

Sometimes it can feel easier to push negative emotions away, rather than actually dealing with them. However, ignoring the way you’re really feeling and bottling things up can often do more damage than good.

Be kind to yourself. Take some time out and reflect on what it is that might be making you feel down. Perhaps sharing your feelings with a friend or family member might help. Or, if you don’t feel like talking, allow yourself some time to accept how you feel. Sometimes a good cry to a sad film can relieve a lot of built-up tension and make you feel a lot better!

Chatting with friends or family members can always help to boost your mood. While we all know face to face interaction is limited right now, why not call or facetime someone you haven’t caught up with for a while? Start a virtual hangout and have your own ‘pub’ quiz with your best friends and favorite drinks, or get creative with an online game of Pictionary!

Do you ever find yourself so submerged with something, then you look at the clock and hours have gone by? Find something you enjoy doing and allow yourself some time to have fun! There’s plenty of things to keep you occupied - a funny film or tv show, writing/drawing, puzzles, online quizzes, or even virtual games you can play online with friends! 

While they're a lot less chatty, if you have a pet, spend some time with them too! Animals can bring us so much joy with the little things they do and can be a great company when you're feeling low. 

“The way to someone's heart is through their stomach!” - A tasty treat is always a great way to put a smile on someone's face. There are plenty of free recipes online, so why not have a go at trying one yourself? Baking can be a really therapeutic way of keeping busy for a few hours and as a bonus, you'll have an afternoon treat to go with a cup of tea! 

If you're in need of some inspiration, take a look at these yummy looking recipes!

Indulgent Chocolate Cookies

Mary Berry’s Lemon Drizzle Loaf

Brilliant Banana Loaf

 Offering an act of kindness to others is always a nice thing to do. It can make somebody’s day and you’ll feel great seeing their reaction, knowing you’ve done lovely something for them. Ideas could be offering some help to somebody who is struggling, treating a loved one to a home-cooked meal or even showing a smile to a stranger. 

Having something positive to listen to is always a good way to lift the mood. Put together a playlist of all your favorite songs to put on or find something interesting to listen to. There are plenty of podcasts online where people talk about all kinds of different topics. 

For an all-round feel-good podcast, The Mental Makeover Podcast has lots of episodes on how to live a happier lifestyle, including topics such as the law of attraction, boosting your mood and improving your self-confidence. Definitely worth a listen!

Although we all know the importance of staying inside at the moment, we can still get our dose of vitamin D! Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin, known as the happy hormone. Even going for a short walk or standing outside for 5-10 minutes can help. Just don't forget your SPF!

Taking some time out to practice self-care is so important for good mental health. Run a bath, pop a face mask on, grab some of your favourite body products and treat yourself to a few hours to yourself to relax and unwind. An early night now and again helps too - a rested mind makes anyone feel better!

If you really want to treat yourself, take a look at ARK Skincare's new Uplifting Care package! The perfect gift to treat yourself or a friend to. 

Was £92, now £45!

 Includes:

• Vitality Hand & Body Wash
• Nourishing Body Lotion
• Hydrating Beauty Mist 
• ARK Washbag 

 You can find more of our other care packages and gifts here.

References: 

NHS - How To Be Happy 

Psychology Today - 10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Mood 

Very Well Mind - How to Instantly Lift Your Mood

SELF - 13 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Mood

Healthline - What Are The Benefits Of Sunlight?

 

 Hand washing has never been so important. However, over washing causes dryness and irritation leaving many suffering with soreness. Here we explain simple steps you can take to protect and soothe your hands.

But first, why are we having to wash our hands so much?

 

We find ourselves in unprecedented times, and all of our lives have suddenly changed. The first message we received as soon as word spread about the COVID-19 virus was to wash our hands. Washing hands is essential to stop the spread of the virus. The COVID-19 virus itself is covered in a layer of sticky molecules, which is how it so easily attaches to surfaces and clings to your hands. The good news is this sticky coating is made up of molecules that are also attracted to soap which can destroy it. Using soap breaks down the outer layer of the virus, allowing it to be dissolved by water, washed away, and destroyed.

When you wash your hands with soap and water, you surround any microorganisms on your skin with soap molecules. The hydrophobic tails of the free-floating soap molecules attempt to evade water; in the process, they wedge themselves into the lipid envelopes of certain microbes and viruses, prying them apart. 

“They (the soap molecules) act like crowbars and destabilise the whole system.”

Professor Pall Thordarson, acting head of chemistry at the University of New South Wales.

More details on this can be found in this Science Focus article and in this article from the Independent on Soap, Hand Washing & Covid-19. 

But what if hand washing facilities are not available? Can hand sanitizer gels help too? The answer is yes, if they are at least 60% alcohol based. The alcohol can effectively kill the virus but you need to fully coat your hands, so you need to use the gel liberally, and, let it dry naturally, to take effect. The problem with gels is that the alcohol, the very ingredient that makes them effective, is incredibly unkind to your skin. Skin soaked in alcohol will show the signs of dryness and cellular damage. Obviously this is preferable over the transmission of any Coronavirus, but it can lead to irritation and soreness, meaning hand washing with soap is always the preferred option, if you have the choice. You can learn more here.

 

 

Hand washing needs to be thorough to be effective (see more advice on this here) so it can unfortunately also lead to dry irritated hands. In extreme circumstances they may become so dry they become red, cracked and incredibly sore. It can even lead to conditions such as contact dermatitis. This is because excessive cleaning can strip away natural oils along with the dirt and germs.

SO what can we do when we have to be washing our hands but don’t want to suffer from the associated side effects? Here are our top tips:

Hot water strips the hand of essential moisture. Make sure you use lukewarm water. This is a top tip for your whole body as very hot baths and showers do the same.

Look for products with shea, olive oil or aloe vera and avoid harsh synthetic chemicals. Soaps all work in the same way, and those with natural hydrators will prevent dehydration. You may like to try the ARK Skincare Body Beautiful Vitality Hand & Body Wash

And don’t forget to use a nail brush to clean under your nails too. Lots of us have one lurking in a bathroom cupboard – time to get it out!

After washing, gently pat your hands dry. Don’t rub them vigorously. Studies have found the most hygienic way is to use paper towels, but be gentle with them to save making your hands sore. Remember, whilst hand dryers can seem efficient, they can be the cause of increased skin irritation. Read more about this here.

To prevent excessive dryness, and to lock in moisture, use a good quality hand cream straight after washing and frequently throughout the day. Have your own tube in your bag or pocket to minimise contamination from sharing with others. Keep a hand cream by your bed to give them a good coating before you go to sleep too – maybe treat yourself to a nightly hand massage to soothe and calm yourself before bed?

The cream should be free from known irritants and contain ingredients to reinforce the skin barrier. Learn more about our award winning Hand Cream here

Don’t save your exfoliator and masque just for your face. You should give your hands a weekly treatment too. Exfoliate away dry skin to allow the moisturisers to work. You can also treat your hands to a hydrating masque. Smooth the masque on and place your hands in a small plastic bag, or even a large sock, whilst you let the active ingredients get to work. Your hands will emerge feeling super soft and any irritation will be calmed. Click through here to find out more about our exfoliator and masque products.

Gloves are a must! Wear them for household chores, especially the washing up, or if working in the garden. They will save your hands from further wear and tear.

 

 

 

In summary, effective hand washing, and good hand care, will be a lesson we have all learnt only too well by the end of this current pandemic. Moving forward our hands will continue to take the brunt of the battle against the transmission of viruses. Take steps to protect and nourish them now, and save yourself from the uncomfortable side effects which can occur.

 

To learn more about the battle against coronavirus and the latest government advise please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus