With more free time to spend on our beauty regimen in recent months, one of the unexpected benefits of staying at home has been better-looking skin, according to top dermatologists.

When it comes to our skin, it seems that recent events have left us with one positive legacy (one less so was the phenomenon of ‘maskne’): when dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross reopened his famous New York clinic, he was surprised to see a marked positive change in many of his patients’ complexions. “Because people hadn’t been able to see their regular doctor or esthetician, many had taken the time to really look after their skin themselves, and the difference it made in the quality of their complexions was perceptible,” explains Dr Gross. “Those who devised their own regimen with the right products and devices have shown a marked difference in the radiance, firmness, health and even youthfulness of their skin.” Then there were those patients who, without their regular skin experts on hand, had taken a more laissez-faire approach, doing little to nothing beyond the basics… “And I have to say, these people did not look so good,” adds Dr Gross. “It just goes to show that a good and consistent skin regimen really does matter.”