Social media’s latest workplace buzzword
“Office air is ruining your makeup.”
“Office air is making your skin dull.”
“Office air is making you look tired.”
If you spend time on social media, chances are you have come across these phrases recently. A new trend called “office air” is rapidly gaining attention online, especially among young professionals who say they look completely different by the end of their workday.
Across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, users have been sharing before-and-after videos showing how they look before leaving for work and then after spending hours inside the office.
In many clips, people appear fresh and energetic in the morning, but visibly tired, dull, dehydrated, or exhausted by evening.
WHY DO PEOPLE RELATE TO THE “OFFICE AIR” TREND?
For some, it is about makeup melting away, greasy hair, dry skin, and dark circles becoming more noticeable under harsh office lighting. But for others, the conversation goes much deeper than appearance.
Many social media users believe “office air” is also linked to stress, burnout, anxiety, poor sleep, and emotional exhaustion caused by toxic or demanding work environments.
One viral creator described “office air” as the feeling that comes from working in jobs that “drain your soul.” In the video, the creator explained that it is not necessarily every 9-to-5 job that causes this feeling, but rather workplaces that create constant stress and anxiety.
CAN STRESS AFFECT YOUR APPEARANCE?
Experts say stress and poor indoor environments can indeed affect how a person feels during the day.
According to doctors, spending long hours in enclosed, air-conditioned office spaces with poor ventilation may contribute to headaches, tiredness, reduced concentration, and low energy levels.
Dr Pawan Kumar Goyal, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, explained that dry indoor air can also lead to dehydration, eye strain, throat irritation, and make the skin and scalp appear dull over time.
“While air-conditioning itself is not harmful, poor air circulation and prolonged staying indoors with limited exposure to sunlight can affect overall comfort and productivity,” he said.
IS DRY OFFICE AIR AFFECTING SKIN AND HAIR?
Another viral skincare-focused video explained that office environments are often filled with dry air from air-conditioners or indoor heating systems.
According to the creator, dry air can pull moisture from the skin, leading to dryness, dullness, and more visible fine lines.
The video suggested a few simple habits that may help people spend long hours indoors.
These included using gentle cleansers instead of harsh face washes, applying thicker moisturisers with hydrating ingredients, drinking enough water, and wearing sunscreen even while indoors, especially for those sitting near windows.
The creator also recommended keeping a hydrating facial mist at the desk and using a humidifier whenever possible to reduce dryness caused by air-conditioned spaces.
WHAT EXPERTS SAY ABOUT INDOOR WORK ENVIRONMENTS
Dr Goyal also noted that poor office ventilation may increase the spread of infections such as flu, common cold, and COVID-19. According to him, enclosed spaces with limited fresh-air circulation allow airborne viruses and respiratory droplets to linger, increasing the risk of transmission.
He added that crowded workspaces and poorly maintained cooling systems may further contribute to the spread of infections in office environments.
THE ROLE OF STRESS AND BURNOUT
Stress itself may also play a major role. Health experts have long linked chronic stress to changes in sleep, skin health, energy levels, digestion, and hormone balance. High stress can increase cortisol levels, which may affect skin appearance and overall well-being.
At the same time, experts caution against blaming “office air” alone for every skin or health issue. Lifestyle habits such as poor sleep, dehydration, unhealthy eating, long screen exposure, lack of exercise, and emotional stress can all contribute to fatigue and dull-looking skin.
HOW OFFICES CAN CREATE HEALTHIER WORKSPACES
Experts believe workplaces can make several changes to improve employee wellbeing and indoor comfort.
Dr Goyal suggested that offices should focus on improving fresh air circulation, regularly maintaining and cleaning air-conditioning systems, and keeping indoor humidity at comfortable levels.
He also recommended encouraging hydration, allowing short movement breaks, reducing overcrowding, improving exposure to natural sunlight, and promoting hygiene practices to help employees feel healthier and more energetic during the workday.
MORE THAN JUST A VIRAL TREND
Still, the trend has started an important conversation online about workplace wellness and how office environments may impact overall health beyond productivity alone.
As more people return to offices after years of remote or hybrid work, the phrase “office air” appears to capture a feeling many employees already recognise: the sense of looking and feeling less like themselves after long days spent indoors under constant pressure.