Emer O'Callaghan's beauty tips for office workers

I truly love my job, but every day in Emerald Beauty Clinic, I hear clients tell me they are unhappy in theirs and wish they could get a new one.

Everyone’s work environment is so different. Recently, I was dropping in some Krispy Kreme donuts to the lads in Cork Fire Brigade to say thank-you for something they had helped me with.

Now, they are lads who don’t eat many donuts, that’s for sure - jeez, one was fitter than the next, and all ages, just very impressive looking men. Hot stuff, alright!

May I suggest on behalf of the women of Cork a topless calendar please, lads? It certainly would be a best-seller.

When I told my mum I’d been in there, I wound her up that I took two goes on the pole they jump down when the alarm goes - Bridget Jones style in a dress!

Now, as much as I’d be fine in the company of a group of all men, having the banter, I wouldn’t be as comfortable, I’m ashamed to say, as a woman in a group of women. All that bitching!

On to the beauty...

I always say, as a beauty doctor and skin specialist, that this transition from summer into winter is always very harsh on women of all ages, particularly on our skin and our bodies.

These are the weeks the cold sores appear, the sinus infections flare up, the skin breakouts from stress occur, and most will say, ‘Oh, I don’t know, but since I went back into the office after the summer, my skin is so tight or dry, or my lips keep cracking’.

So this week I want to give my best office tips to help you look and feel fabulous and have you winter ready this season.

You can get more of my tips in my weekly beauty videos on the Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages now also.

AIR CONDITIONING

If there is one thing I do not like and would in no way work under, it’s air conditioning.

All it does is recycle the germs and blow them back out, not to mind the fact that lots of people in Ireland don’t actually get the filters professionally cleaned like they are supposed to every six months.

This is exactly why so many fall sick with respiratory infections and sinus pain when back in the office post-summer, as they are no longer getting the warm summer fresh air, it’s now all air con, and this will switch to heating in a few short weeks.

Every day in Emerald Beauty Clinic, there is a client complaining of the effects of air conditioning on their skin or health.

My advice is try your best to move your seat as far away from the air con as possible, you’d find me out in the car park, desk and all!

If it’s affecting you in any way, there are fantastic nasal sinus rinses you can get in any chemist now to rinse your sinus. I use them myself and these really do help people working in air conditioned offices who feel the effects as it cleans out the nasal cavity.

SCREEN TIME

While it’s all well and good to say limit your screen time, the majority of people spend the day staring at a screen, and this has side effects too.

I see these every day in my job analysing clients’ skin - lines of the neck are deeper, crows’ feet from squinting at screens are more prominent, and the main one is skin sensitivity from the blue ray light coming back off the screen, which causes the skin to dry out and over-heat, and can trigger skin sensitivity such as rosacea.

This is why I always advise my clients to apply a professional grade SPF over their moisturiser every day to protect their skin from these harmful blue ray lights.

My best-seller for this is my Dermalogica Porescreen SPF 40. All my clients whose skin is affected from so much daily screen time see and feel a huge difference from using this cream daily.

Investing in a good quality non- perfumed eye cream will sort the crows’ feet, and I can help you with this also if your eye area is something you wish to address.

We have our award-winning Eye Treatment, €85, 60 minutes, that I do with facials in my clinic and the results are outstanding.

REHYDRATE

Dehydration is the biggest enemy of the office environment, not just of the skin but the body also.

Not getting the recommended 1.5 -2 litres of water in daily while working in the office is exactly why so many have fine lines and premature ageing along with headaches, and why they are tired and cranky.

Water is vital for anyone working in an office environment, while I know the tea and coffee machine are far more tempting, the facts are for every cup of tea or coffee you drink, you would need to drink three more of that same size mug of water to rehydrate your body.

Water does so much, it fills you up, it gives you energy, it stops you feeling tired and getting that 3pm slump, it hydrates the skin, and it gets every organ in the body working correctly.

It’s actually scary to see how many people today buy sugary drinks and takeaway coffees as opposed to a bottle of water. I’m still a water girl, I get my two litres in daily - the health and skin benefits are never going to be beaten.

LIP CARE

Cracked lips, coldsores, dry lips... I am seeing these every day among all ages in my clinic.

Our lips are a true indication of our health so if you get a coldsore, that’s your body’s way of telling you you’re a bit run down.

Skin of the lips is far thinner than skin of the face, but very few know they should be applying their SPF and their moisturiser on the lips too.

GET OUTSIDE

It always disappoints me when I hear those who do get such lovely break times in the office say they still sit at their desk for lunch.

This is not good, we all need to move more and get some daylight, particularly now with the winter coming and the darker evenings.

Use your lunch break to get outside in the fresh air and daylight, your skin and bones need that vitamin D and your poor eyes and neck need a break from that screen too.

Some now prefer a standing desk more than sitting ones, and set a little alarm where they get up and walk around every 30 minutes.

I’ve never seen so much cellulite on people that sit in an office all day, which leads to poor blood flow.

The cellulite, which is just trapped fat, is getting no blood flow to move on, so this is why cellulite today is so noticeable. It’s all down to lifestyle and lack of movement and too much sugar being consumed on a daily basis.

Emer O’Callaghan is a Beauty Doctor and Skin Specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist of the year and works at Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Multi Award Winning Five Star Gold Standard Clinic 2008-2025, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie - follow on Facebook/instagram/TikTok.

SPECIAL OFFER

All next week, our award-winning Dermalogica Dry skin Facial is reduced from €125 to €95, 90 minutes, includes a full professional skin analysis, eyebrow shape, treats and samples. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. Free parking for clients.