6 Beauty Tips for Women Wearing Masks: How to Maintain great skin and avoid breakouts

This pandemic has caused us to be more self-reflective on our lives. The self-care movement has skyrocketed due to the number of anxiety attacks and depression that have set in due to being cooped up in the house for MONTHS! Now I’ve seen a large number of people worried about their skin due to the masks that are mandated to be worn. In my business alone, I’ve had to counsel clients due to them being worried about the breakouts that are suddenly appearing on their face. A lot of this is caused from stress, but also the masks we are wearing. Here are a few tips to maintaining great skin and avoiding breakouts:

1. Prioritize your Skin Regimen and Skincare Products-Clean your skin daily! You want to make sure you don’t miss out on this routine/regimen. Clean your face in the AM prior to wearing the mask and in the PM after wearing the mask all day. I suggest a gentle cleanser, hydrating toner, light serum or gel moisturizer, and sunscreen, and prioritize skin-soothing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, and aloe. You want to wait 5-7 minutes after washing your face prior to wearing your mask. Make sure your face is dry prior to putting the mask on.

2. Remove lipstick prior to wearing your mask- Keep a makeup wipe or remover handy so you can remove any lip product prior to wearing your mask. Having makeup on your masks will then get on your face and have a potential to cause breakouts.

3. Purchase multiple masks- For so many reasons, you want to have multiple masks on hand. Stock up on masks made from soft fabrics, which will ease less friction—an issue that “can create micro-tears [in the skin] that allow for easier entry of bacteria and dirt” and ultimately cause inflammation and acne formation.

4. Refrain from wearing foundation- Refraining from wearing foundation at this time is best because it minimizes acne breakouts and skin irritants. If you must wear foundation, try a foundation that is light-weight and blot during the day to minimize excessive oil production.

5. Focus on just your eyes and brows- This is all we see! Get creative with your shadows, keep your brows groomed and maintained(every 4-6 weeks for optimum growth) and book a classic, hybrid or volume lash appointment with a reputable lash artist.

6. Wash your masks weekly- I have 7+ masks and by the end of the week, I wash them all(by hand with light detergent). This will minimize breakouts because you will always have a clean mask on. Wear your mask once a day. Never wear without washing them prior to use.

Although we are protecting our health, its important to remember we must protect our skin as well.

Stay Healthy!