'Office air was ruining my makeup, until I tried this hack.'

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For two blissful weeks in December, with nothing but sun, salt water and SPF, my skin is the happiest it could be.

Radiant. Glowing. Clear. Hydrated.

Then comes the return to work. The days sitting inside with the comically cold air-con blasting down on you, sucking every drop of life out of your skin. Makeup sitting on your face for eight plus hours, marinating. And don't even get me started on public transport. It should be illegal what an hour on the train does to my skin.

Watch: The You Beauty hosts on the best moisturisers for underneath your makeup. Post continues below.

This is a phenomenon I like to call 'office air'.

It's the same as 'boyfriend air', or 'school air' if that's your demo. You arrive glowing and fresh, and leave a dry, shrivelled prune with 13 new pimples that weren't there this morning.

As someone who already suffers from dry skin, the office air pays me no favours, and I'm often looking in the mirror at 5pm and met with a flaky, pale, textured face.

Well, new year, new me, I say. I'm standing up to office air once and for all, and I think I've finally hacked the skincare routine to prevent it.

After work before proper skin prep vs. after. Image: Supplied.

Step 1: Prep.

As someone on the early shift, I do my makeup at work. But I'd never leave the house without prepping my skin for the outside world.

I don't wash my face in the morning (sue me, but actually I don't think you're meant to), so I start with a toner. At the moment, I'm using the rhode Glazing Milk which will soon be at Mecca for $55 (yipee!).

Image: Supplied.

I also mix it up with the esmi Probiotic Skin Mylck, $65, which, in my opinion, is just as good. This acts as a little prep-step for your moisturiser and an extra boost of hydration.

Image: Supplied.

To lock it in, I find my skin needs a thick moisturiser like the Cetaphil Moisturising Cream, $14.99.

I've tried so many moisturisers, but most leave my skin feeling tight or thirsty. Sometimes the best thing you can do is strip it back to the basics and go for an affordable, dermatologist-approved cream.

This sets me up for the most hydrated face possible and will sustain me until the rest of the prep begins once I arrive at the office.

Image: Supplied.

Step 2: Refresh.

To prepare my face for makeup and add in a little moisture that might've been lost in the past few hours, I like to keep a hydrating facial mist or spray at my desk.

It can also be handy to have throughout the day if your face starts to feel a little tight or dry under the air-con vent.

At the moment, I'm using the prime skin, Glass Mist (2-1) Spray, $42. And, well, it's in the name.

It's the perfect base to prime your skin for your serums and moisturisers, so you're not lathering straight onto skin that feels like sandpaper. Also – it's pretty.

Image: Supplied.

Another facial mist worth adding to your cart, is Go-To's Prep Step, $29.

This one is super refreshing and a little spray across your face before the rest of routine will be the key to help everything else fulfil their potential.

Step 3: Glow.

Now, this. This is the magic ingredient. Literally.

I recently got my hands on the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixr, $130 and to be honest, I didn't really know what was in it. I'd just heard amazing things and have a loyalty to Miss Charlotte for never doing me wrong.

Image: Supplied.

I'm here to say this could be my favourite skin product for makeup prep that I've ever used.

Immediately, your skin is hydrated, glowing and the radiance can be seen through your base. Once I tried this, there was no going back. My skin was changed forever.

The box claims it'll make you look 93 per cent younger, so here I am as a two-year-old.

My skin at this stage of the routine. Image: Supplied.

For a more affordable dupe, try the Revolution Skincare Pro Miracle Serum, $22. With plenty of similar ingredients, this serum will hydrate and plump just the same!

Step 4: Protect.

It wouldn't be a skincare routine without a good SPF. Yes, even if you're in the office, you need to protect your face from UV. It's sneaky like that!

I've tried plenty of sunscreens at different price points and formulas. I have repurchased the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 ($10.99) many times, along with the pricier but very popular La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF 50+, $39.99.

Image: Supplied.

And there you have it folks! This routine will act as a shield against that pesky office air and leave you feeling fresh throughout the day.

Happy hydrating!

For more tried and tested beauty recommendations, listen to the You Beauty podcast or watch You Beauty on YouTube.

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Feature image: Supplied.