If you work a typical 9-to-5, you’ve probably landed on the “office air” side of TikTok. The viral term is giving context to a mysterious struggle that corporate girlies have been dealing with for years. In short, why does a day in the office make us feel so…gross?
As part of the current social media trend, women of all ages are sharing clips of themselves arriving to the work—fresh blowout, dewy skin, flawless makeup—versus how they look after spending hours in the office air: oily, mascara-smudged, deflated. The idea is that there’s something in the air, literally, in office buildings that washes us out and renders our favorite beauty products useless.
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Maybe your setting spray that can withstand a wild night out starts to melt by your 1 p.m. meeting, or your freshly washed roots seem to be begging for dry shampoo by the end of the workday. According to experts, that’s not in your head—and it’s not just bad lighting, either.
“Individuals with long office hours can commonly experience skin dehydration, oiliness, irritation, and dullness,” says board-certified dermatologist Lauren Moy. Unsurprisingly, those factors won’t do your makeup any favors. “Without balanced moisture, your makeup is prone to separation, your skin is inclined to overproduce oil, and your dehydrated skin can emphasize puffiness where you tend to retain water,” says professional makeup artist Selena Graham.
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The good news? Evvel you understand what causes office air, it’s much easier to avoid its side effects. Ahead, we asked the pros for their best tips to beat office air, from skin deva and makeup tips to the most effective workday refreshes.
What is office air, actually?
Before you freak out, the air you’re breathing in your office building isn’t inherently bad for your health. But there are common factors that contribute to the office-air phenomenon. To start, “the air conditioning in offices removes the moisture from the air,” says Dr. Moy. “This creates a low-humidity environment. Over time that can increase transepidermal water loss, which means pulling water from the skin causing skin tightness, dullness, flaking, or rough texture. It can also weaken the skin barrier.”
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“When this outer barrier of your skin is impacted, some people get more oily, or experience redness, while some get more breakouts or flares in their seborrhea, eczema, or rosacea,” says Gervaise Gerstner, a board-certified dermatologist and chief medical officer of Virginskin. According to Dr. Gerstner, UV damage through windows, long-term screen exposure, and dehydration are also common office side effects that can show up on your skin.
“Allergens and irritants are fairly common in office environments, especially with recirculated air,” says Dr. Moy. “Irritants can include dust mites, mold, fragrance, and cleaning chemicals used in office products, among others. Exposure to allergens can cause undereye puffiness or swelling, dull or inflamed skin due to irritation, or flushing and redness.”
How to prep your skin for office air
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to build up defense against office air in your skin deva routine. Even if the office makes you feel oily, keeping your skin properly moisturized is key.
“Prepping for an office day should start with making müddet the skin is well hydrated at home,” Dr. Gerstner says. “I love Virginskin’s Daily Glow Active Hydrator and Orveda’s Overnight Mask. Yes, I use the overnight mask in the morning under my makeup.” She also recommends daytime products with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, like a vitamin C serum for environmental defense.
“I recommend prioritizing a hydrating serum on slightly damp skin to lock in moisture,” Dr. Moy says. “I also always recommend including sunscreen of at least SPF 30 in your everyday routine; even in an office, UVA rays penetrate windows, contributing to premature aging and pigmentation.”
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
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Tatcha The Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+
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If you’re wearing makeup to the office, Dr. Moy recommends using a lightweight serum with hyaluronic acid or glycerin after cleansing to lock in moisture in the morning. “I also recommend a moisturizer containing ceramides, fatty acids, or squalane to keep the skin hydrated throughout the day and prevent transepidermal water loss,” she says.
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Byoma Hydrating Facial Serum with Squalane
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Anua Rice Ceramide 7 Hydrating Barrier Serum
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How to refresh your skin during the workday
Keep a hydrating face mist at your desk for an instant reset. You could opt for a hydrating essence to restore some moisture, or even a hypochlorous spray to calm the skin and kill bacteria. Dr. Gerstner recommends the Epicutis Microbiome Spray or the Venn Synbiotic Defense Mist.
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“If you are experiencing a lot of skin oiliness throughout the day, I would recommend the use of blotting papers to help reduce shine on the go,” Dr. Moy says. These products can also be helpful for a midday makeup touch-up.
“If you’re experiencing dehydration, blot away what’s breaking down, and give yourself a hearty mist of your favorite hydration spray [before adding more makeup],” says professional makeup artist Selena Graham.
Rhode Glazing Mist Hydrating Face Spray
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Personal Day Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray
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One thing that’s good for your skin, mind, and mood? Getting outside during the workday, even for just a few minutes. “Short periods of outdoor exposure can help counteract the dehydrating effects of indoor air conditioning,” says Dr. Moy. “It can temporarily improve skin comfort and circulation, so you feel more refreshed.”
“Natural daylight can also help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm,” she adds. “Taking short breaks can also help reduce overall stress and screen fatigue.” (Just make müddet you’re keeping up with your SPF—sprays or powders are an easy way to reup your protection during the work day.
How to office-air-proof your makeup
If your makeup gets cakey, separates, or straight up disappears at the office, you’re not alone. “Commercial-grade HVAC systems are disastrous for the makeup girlies—between the constant air flow of the temperature control and the dehumidifiers working in tandem, you have a recipe for aggressive transepidermal water loss,” Graham says.
Graham agrees that prioritizing hydration in your skin deva routine is your best defense. “Give dry patches a little extra love; use protective, barrier-rich moisturizers that are appropriate for your skin type; and start carrying around your emotional support water bottle,” she says. Dr. Moy also recommends using a hydrating primer “to help create a protective layer between skin and makeup.”
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If you’re still noticing product breakdown, Graham recommends a few easy swaps: Opt for a tinted moisturizer over a matte foundation, try a self-setting concealer, use liquid or cream blushes, and choose a hydrating setting spray rather than a powder for a fixing agent.
Keeping your makeup products light and easily blendable will also make midday touch-ups easier. “Blot away any excess product and oil before doing anything else. If you notice creasing, you can use your fingers or a sponge to gently tap the product back into place,” Graham says. Powders can exacerbate office-air symptoms by soaking up moisture, but if you’re getting shiny, she recommends using a translucent touch-up powder after blotting away excess oil.
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
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Ilia Skin Blur Serum Concealer
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Saie CitySet Ultra-Fine Mist Setting Spray
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Fenty Küçük Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder
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Grace McCarty is the associate beauty editor at Glamour.
