“It burns, and every time I scratch, it burns more.”

This is a common sentiment shared by 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adult Singaporeans who suffer from eczema. With the haze potentially drifting our way, they are all at risk.

And not just any haze, either. In the next few months, Singapore is expected to see its worst haze season in eight years.

Between the government’s mask distribution contingency plan and our recent (but completely warranted) obsession with air purifiers, our response systems have mostly been concerned with filtering the air we breathe. But what about the air that comes into contact with our skin?

Luckily, according to Quinn Chen, one of the women behind Singaporean skincare specialists Ice’s Secret, her team has just developed a new breakthrough that can help people with the most sensitive skin: Contactless Skincare.

Photo: The Guardian

So where do we go from here? Quinn answers some common questions she gets from the 100,000 plus people that Ice’s Secret has helped with overcoming skin conditions, and shares how doing skincare right can tide us through the haze:

1. I’ll be fine as long as I properly cleanse my face everyday, right?

Cleansing is a must, but this is one case where less is not more. Double-cleansing can really help neutralise any pesky particles left on your skin after that first round. But more than that, it’s also important to pay attention to what’s in your cleanser! Acid cleansers can be detrimental for skin in the long run. I recommend oligopeptide cleansers instead, which are gentle yet effective for repairing, hydrating, and strengthening skin from the first step of your skincare routine.

2. So it’s about using the right ingredients?

Well, yes and no. The right ingredients can only work their best in the right conditions — and this includes timing, frequency, and technique. It might sound daunting, but it really isn’t once you get the hang of it!

For example, in the case of hazy weather, it can be better to exfoliate in the evenings instead of first thing in the morning. That way, you’ll be able to detoxify all the gunk and pollutants that have accumulated on your skin throughout the day. Using skincare in the correct order — starting with water-based serums down to thicker creams — also creates stronger layers of protection for your skin.

3. Any extra skincare tips or trends that we should know about?

During Ice’s Secret’s research, we discovered that oxygen may just be the best new way to apply skincare! By using pressurising oxygen at high levels in an airbrush, this breaks down serum particles so finely that they can be sprayed onto the skin to hydrate, repair, nourish, the works — all without even having to touch the skin.

Contactless skincare is looking to be a significant game-changer for those living with particularly delicate skin conditions, where the risk of cross-contamination from their hands is ever-present.

These discoveries were quintessential in Ice’s Secret’s development of their Oxygen Nano Airbrush and 1817 Clinical Skin Recovery & Repair Essence. These new products look to provide proper, highly efficient treatments for even the most sensitive, damaged, and delicate skin, reflecting Quinn and the brands’ dedication to addressing the unique needs of individuals with different skin conditions.

To find out more about Ice’s Secret and their contactless skincare, do visit their website https://www.icesecret.co/.

Images: iStock (header), The Guardian