How I saved my dry eyes and skin from long screen time >.<
My quirky new habit!
I live in the desert valley area in SoCal. It's usually crazy hot in the summer and super dry in the fall and winter. And between the wind and fire... *sigh* things get a lot worse.
I’d like to take a moment to give a big shout-out to Kid-Lit for Los Angeles! As Angelenos, many of us know friends and loved ones who are going through tough times and facing heartbreaking losses. Right now, as I write this, the winds that calmed down over the weekend are picking up again. If you’re looking to lend a hand and support those in need during this challenging time, I warmly encourage you to check out the Kid-Lit for Los Angeles Auction. Every bit helps! 🧡
I spend most of the day stuck at my desk, working on my book. On average, I spend about 9 hours glued to my Cintiq screen. So, between the long screen time and the dry weather, I can feel my skin drying up like a raisin and my eyes feeling a bit off, too.
I might not be a spring chicken, but these raisin lines are not normal! Something needs to be done!
Face mist was great for the dry season, but the mist only lasts for like 5 minutes. The usual fix is to drink tons of water, but it doesn't really help with weather related dry skin issues.
I watched tons of K-beauty influencers' videos! It's my guilty pleasure. Piglet always got annoyed when I was on the phone. There are so many cute skincare products out there, but I need something that stays on for a long time. No serum… I already have plenty of those. And, no to sheet mask because it's not comfy with my glasses on while working on the computer.
I finally decided to try using eye masks. I used to think they were kind of gimmicky. But there's this Chinese idiom, 死马当活马医 - "Try to heal a dead horse as if it were still alive," - which means trying everything possible to remedy a hopeless situation - in this case, my face and my eyes!!
And, it works!! Between the eye mask and drinking plenty of water, my eyes feel much better and my dry skin is fixed!!
If anyone is curious about the eye masks I've tried, they are:
1. Bewants Under Eye Patches with 71.9% Bamboo Water Vegan Collagen Eye Mask Patches
2. Esfolio - Hydrogel Eye Patch
Between the two, I prefer the Bewants Eye patches for longer-lasting moisture.
What are your favorite tips or secret remedies for dealing with dry eyes from too much computer time? Comment below! I'd love to hear your ideas!
Since I started the Kid-Lit Community, I've had the chance to connect with so many amazing creators! Here are a few of my recent reads!
The Sketch Bug
- New Year ReflectionKidLit Survival Guide
- Behind the Series: Ava LinCreating Comics
- Just use the good skis (or sketchbook)Pen Powell Post
- My Detour into IllustrationUplift Kidlit
- Uplift: AANHPI Kidlit News January 2025A Perpetual Work in Progress
- Visualizing Picture Book Art
Thank you so much for the mention! After attending Nancy Tupper Ling’s book launch for HEARTS IN MY POCKET and finding my copy of her book DOUBLE HAPPINESS, I made the connection that you illustrated it! I wonder if we met at ALA in San Francisco about a decade ago. The Kidlit community seems to shrink as I meet people each month, and I love it.
Thanks for the mention, Alina! And love your sketches of your dry eye journey.