Baby,  please leave your mask on - but do this to protect your skin.

Masks are here to stay - at least for the short to mid-term.  And aside from what that means to those of us who aren’t used to wearing a mask - EVER - from a cultural and comfort perspective, we also need to give a thought to what is going on under the mask.   What does wearing a mask do to your complexion?

First, if you are wearing a protective mask all day every day- thank you for being on the front line.  You are probably dealing with a number of issues - bruising, chaffing, rashes, congestion and breakouts.  For the rest of us who only need to wear them out in public for short periods of time, there shouldn’t be any big fallout.  But what if you are on a plane, train or in some other situation that will require endless hours of mask-wearing?  The heat and humidity from your breath trapped in there are going to cause some issues. Here are a few tips to help you through. Your skin will thank you for it. 

1. No Makeup under the mask.  Foundation and concealer are going to clog your pores and cause congestion.  And congestion leads to breakouts.  Take a page from our middle eastern sisters who are used to face coverings - play up those gorgeous eyes of yours and keep a lipstick handy, but let your skin breathe.
2. Skin Prep - clean your skin thoroughly before and after wearing the mask.  And if you’re wearing one for a long period of time, don’t hesitate to wipe your skin down with micellar water and give it a spritz with a face mist every so often.  
3. Create a Barrier - Layering skincare can also help create a barrier between your skin and what’s going on outside of it - in a mask or not.  We recommend a gel mask as a final layer to protect your dermis and then a wipe-down with micellar water before heading off the plane.
4. Treat rashes and breakout asap - use a healing ointment or balm overnight to calm down stressed skin.
5. Wash your hands or use a sanitiser before you touch your face. Every time.
6. Wear a Fresh Mask - whenever available (we know there are issues with availability in some places) or wear a washable fabric mask - and make sure that you wash it after each wearing.

And remember the mask isn’t just to protect you, it is to protect your fellow humans.  Be kind.  Be compassionate.  We’re all a bit freaked out right now, but keeping ourselves and others safe is one small way we can do our part.