Now that the government is no longer discouraging wearing of masks to protect oneself against COVID-19, many more people are starting to put on surgical or reusable masks.
But, breathability becomes an issue when wearing a mask and this puts a damper on our skin, causing breakouts, sensitivity, dehydration and clogged pores. While it's definitely not smart to ditch wearing a mask just because of all the things mentioned, there are some ways to reduce the damage on your skin without having to compromise personal hygiene.
Read on to find out more!
#1 Use a hydrating facial cleanser
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The very first step is to wash your face with a hydrating cleanser. Avoid using a cleanser that leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean as that usually means that it has stripped your face of all of its natural oils. This makes your skin produce more sebum at a faster rate to overcompensate.
Wearing a mask also increases humidity within the masked area and exacerbates sebum production which will clog pores and cause acne. So, using a hydrating cleanser that cleans your skin without messing up your skin barrier is recommended. Keep your face adequately hydrated to prevent faster sebum production.
Get the Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser ($26.80) here.
#2 Moisturise your skin
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It's ideal to moisturise your face every day even when wearing a mask to reduce the chances of our skin becoming too oily or too dry. Not moisturising can aggravate any existing skin problems such as acne and even more so when wearing a mask that causes clogged pores.
Choose a lightweight moisturiser that will hydrate your face without being too oily. Apply it after taking a bath for the best effect as some of the moisture from the shower gets trapped on your skin and helps to keep the skin moist, so apply moisturiser after showering to trap the moisture.
Get Tatcha's The Water Cream ($101) here.
#3 Use a gentle makeup remover
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When your skin is already sensitive from wearing a mask the entire day, you wouldn't want to irritate it even more by using a makeup remover that is too harsh. It's best to wipe away all the makeup and grime on your skin with a makeup remover that is gentle on sensitive skin, but is also effective in removing impurities without needing any harsh tugging on the skin.
We recommend using the Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar water ($41.90) which you can get here.
#4 Apply a soothing mask
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Surgical or reusable masks will take a toll on your skin as mentioned above, which is why you should take this time to pamper your skin. Revive your skin with an ultra-soothing mask that not only feels good on the skin, but also reduces inflammation or redness.
We all know aloe vera and its benefits so try to look for a mask with aloe vera in the ingredients list to soothe your skin! The Kiehl's Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask ($69) which you can get here, has aloe vera and calendula, both of which are ingredients that are very soothing on the skin.
#5 Drink lots of water
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Drinking lots of water hydrates your body from within, which means your skin will be hydrated on the outside. As mentioned, hydration is very important especially when wearing a mask daily, so make sure you drink more water to keep both your body and your skin healthy!
These are simple ways or habits you can adopt immediately to start making a positive difference on your skin. Keep them in mind and do them before, during and after wearing a mask!
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Text by: GirlStyle SG
