As we all continue to adjust to life in its newest form, one question that clients have been asking recently is skincare while masking. By this, I mean how to keep your skin happy while wearing a face covering to protect others when you can’t socially distance. Here are my top suggestions.
Keep it clean
Before donning your mask to face the outside world, be sure your skin is clean. Use a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt, oil or make-up. Foaming cleansers can often be too drying, however if you’re prone to breakouts, consider one that contains salicylic acid to help prevent them.
It's also important to wash your face as soon as possible when you've finished wearing your mask for the day. This will help to purge your skin of anything that has built up on your skin while you were wearing the mask. Again, you’re trying to remove dirt, oil and make-up. Breathing while wearing a mask can make skin hotter and you'll feel extra grimy, which is why skin cleansing, after hand washing, may be your two priority activities upon returning home.
It’s also important to keep your mask clean. Based on what I’ve read, max effectiveness for a mask is about 4 hours. So be sure to swap them when you reach this time limit, either by disposing of the mask or washing it, if reusable.
The eyes have it
Wearing a face mask means about two-thirds of our face is covered, so artfully applying bronzer or a new lipstick is kind of pointless. Also, wearing make-up under a mask is a sure way to help clog pores. The heat, respiration and lack of air flow will not help the situation.
I strongly recommend that you skip the foundation and concentrate instead on your eyes, particularly brows, lids and lashes. They can make a great impact, even when the rest of your face isn’t visible.
Be sensitive
Cotton masks, rather than synthetic, are likely to be the most gentle on your skin and cause the least amount of irritation. Try to wear one of these if you can.
Masks may also irritate the skin if you use active ingredients in your skincare, so do keep an eye on how your skin is reacting. You may need to dial down usage if skin is getting irritated: red, flaky or breaking out. Whether you use an AHA, retinol or vitamin C, your normal routine may need to be pared back to a few times a week, rather than daily.
Because your skin will be occluded by the mask for a portion of your day, it’s also sensible to use a light moisturiser. For the time being, you don’t need a rich cream. You’ve probably already made the seasonal switch on this as we head into summer, but just in case you haven’t, now is when you should start.
I have no doubt that we are all looking forward to the time when we no longer need to wear masks, however in the meantime, it’s the best thing we can do while we’re in public. And hopefully these tips will help your skin to stay in line with the programme.