Is Your Office Making You Ugly?

To answer this simply: Yes, your office is making you ugly. Now, before you go and freak out about how horrid you're becoming, let me explain...

By Ysolt Usigan for TheBlush.com

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Terrible Temps

Offices tend to be too hot or too cold -- it seems that there's never a good temperature, right? Operations managers lower the thermostat because you're working around all of this equipment -- computers, servers, lights -- that can make your surroundings hot. But then again, some workplaces don't have the ability to cool an office for reasons like it's too big of a space or they're trying to conserve energy, and the surroundings become sweltering hot (again, because of all those computers). At the end of the day, no one wins -- especially your skin.

"I try to always carry with me a refreshing spritzer to rehydrate my skin," says Jasmina Aganovic, beauty guru and creator of skincare brand Stages of Beauty. "If you're feeling flushed, the spray helps cool and relieve splotches. If the cold air has left skin feeling tight, using a spritzer adds much-needed moisture to thirsty skin."

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Gross Germs

But that's not even all. Your office is a germy place. There lies bacteria, at every corner, on every surface! Don't be so surprised -- you're working with a number of individuals (some with poor hand-washing techniques and others who don't wash at all). Be afraid. As your face encounters sinister microorganisms, zits and other blemishes can form.

To keep your face out of harm's way, just don't touch it. "You probably spend most of your day picking up various germ-infested devices at the office (phones, keyboards, newspapers) and then transferring those germs to your face," explains Aganovic. "Be sure to wash your hands throughout the day and wash your face before bed."

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Lame Lights

And those lights, my goodness, those lights! Not only are the fluorescent lights in your office not doing your reflection any favors (yes, there's a reason you look hotter under the sun or yellowish lighting), but if you're not using a daily SPF, those fluorescent lights can cause irritation and redness. Plus, if there are a lot of windows in your office, the sun's UV rays reflecting off metal surfaces can also affect your beauty factor.

Aganovic suggests you wear a minimum SPF of 30 every day.

Deviant Drinks

In addition to your office, you might be making you ugly. Throughout the day, consider what you're putting and not putting in your body. That cup of coffee or bottle of soda you drank (offices are notorious for stocking these sugary vices) is keeping you from wonderful water. Instead of hitting the vending machine for caffeine, make multiple trips to the water cooler. It does wonders for your skin.

"If you're not a huge water fan, feel free to put a slice of cucumber or lemon in it to make it more delicious," Aganovic suggests.

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