Face masks have become increasingly important as we navigate one of the biggest pandemics our world has ever seen. While many of us try to protect ourselves and our loved ones by scouring the web to secure one, or DIY’ing reusable ones, we must be conscious of how this new ‘accessory’ will affect our skin.
I enlisted the help of Molly Lamb, a licensed esthetician, to aid in how to keep our faces blemish free while we fight this pandemic. Molly Lamb is the owner of Skin by Molly and DMK Skincare. She feels that beautiful skin takes work:
“As a skin revisionist, I believe that beautiful skin comes from the inside out. Diet, genetics, and hormones all play a key role in the health of our skin. Even during these difficult times, I urge everyone to stay on top of your skin care regime. Reach out to your local esthetician, as many are offering delivery and curbside pickup of your favorite products. Several are also doing virtual consultations to help you navigate around your skin care needs.”
Face masks are necessary right now, but they can cause problems with your skin. While they can be uncomfortable physically (and emotionally), they are important, so we can keep ourselves and others safe. Here are six things you can do at home to make sure your skin underneath remains bacteria-free and ready for civilization.
- Keep your mask clean. Wash in hot soapy water after EVERY use. This includes the disposable surgical masks.
- The moisture from your breath being trapped is a breeding ground for bacteria. Be sure to cleanse your face thoroughly after wear and before going to bed.
- Now is a great time to add a weekly clay mask as a pore purifying treatment. I personally like the Acu Mask from DMK.
- Include make-up free days. Your face is pretty much covered already, so try to limit your foundation wear. Not having makeup will help to ward off breakouts since the masks will trap all moisture.
- Friction can lead to irritation. Add a calming serum with Beta Glucan to reduce inflammation.
- Adding an acid toner or mask with AHAs/BHAs to exfoliate will help to flush out pore while thoroughly exfoliating dead skin cells that cause breakouts.
So while many of us are focusing on not eating everything in the damn fridge, we can’t forget the importance of keeping our skin clear, clean and beautiful. Protective face masks are going to be in our lives for a long time; following these tips requires work, but isn’t excessively difficult, and will make for a more beautiful ‘you’ in the end.
Stay safe, wear your face masks and keep them clean!
Sabrina
Sabrina Perkins is an author and beauty blogger of two successful blogs, seriouslynatural.org and naturalhairforbeginners.com. A natural hair expert with over 10 years in the field, her newest book, Natural Hair For Beginners – A Beginners Guide To Going Natural Successfully! has received rave reviews and breaks down the basics of natural hair and how to keep it healthy.
